cabeceando
/kabeθeando/from spelling rules
The English phrase "nodding off" is translated into Spanish as cabeceando.
cabeceando is used to describe the physical motion of the head dropping and jerking back up because of drowsiness. It specifically refers to the act of nodding off while sitting up.
What does it mean word for word?
The word is the gerund form of the verb cabecear, which comes from cabeza (head) and literally means "to head" or "to nod one's head".
Which one should you use?
While cabeceando describes the physical nodding motion, other phrases cover different aspects of sleep. Quedarse dormido(a) means to fall asleep or to become asleep, and Adormecerse means to become sleepy or to become drowsy. If you want to say "to take a nap" or "to grab a snooze", use the informal expression Echar(se) una cabezada.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form cabeceando is the gerund of the infinitive verb cabecear.
How do you pronounce it?
/kabeθeando/
Did you know?
- In Spanish, cabecear can be used to describe a boat that is pitching or tossing its bow up and down in rough seas.
- The verb cabecear is also the specific term used in soccer to describe 'heading' the ball.
- The root word cabeza is a linguistic relative of the Latin 'caput', which gave English the words 'captain' and 'capitol'.
Examples in context
- Sigo cabeceando de sueño al ordenador.I keep nodding off at the computer.This sentence shows how to use cabeceando to describe nodding off at a computer.Tatoeba #13704314 by Seael, translation #13704299 by rul
- Después de una larga jornada de trabajo, el profesor se quedó dormido en su escritorio.After a long workday, the professor fell asleep at his desk.
- El libro era tan aburrido que me adormecí mientras lo leía.The book was so boring that I became drowsy while reading it.
- Después del almuerzo, mi abuelo siempre se echa una cabezada en el sofá.After lunch, my grandfather always takes a nap on the sofa.
- Él está cabeceando en la clase de historia.He is nodding off in history class.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Sofía and Alejandro are in a quiet library.
- SofíaAlejandro, te veo cabeceando sobre los libros.Alejandro, I see you nodding off over the books.
- AlejandroLo siento, Sofía, es que tengo mucho sueño.I'm sorry, Sofía, it's just that I'm very sleepy.
- SofíaEspero que no te quedes cabeceando en medio del examen.I hope you don't end up nodding off in the middle of the exam.
- AlejandroTrataré de mantenerme despierto.I will try to stay awake.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
