omino del sonno
masculine
The English phrase "sandman" is omino del sonno in Italian.
omino del sonno refers to the mythological figure who brings good sleep and dreams. This term is used primarily when speaking to or about young children.
Meaning: figure who brings good sleep and dreams (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of omino (little man), del (of the) and sonno (sleep).
Which one should you use?
l'omino del sonno is typically used when referring to the specific mythological figure by including the definite article. Additionally, L'uomo della sabbia is the literal translation of the English word "sandman".
Did you know?
- Italian parents may use omino del sonno as part of a ritual where they pretend to sprinkle imaginary sand on a child's eyelids to induce sleep.
- While omino del sonno refers to the mythical figure, if you were to use the literal translation l'uomo della sabbia, an Italian might think you are discussing a man made of sand or a worker on a beach.
- In Italian, the diminutive suffix -ino in omino does not just mean 'small', but is used here to create a sense of affection and warmth for the child.
Examples in context
- L'omino del sonno porterà dei bei sogni.The sandman will bring some beautiful dreams.
- Dov'è finito l'omino del sonno oggi?Where has the sandman gone today?
- L'omino del sonno arriva quando chiudi gli occhi.The sandman arrives when you close your eyes.
Example conversation
Martina is putting her child to bed while Alessandro watches.
- MartinaChiudi gli occhi, arriva l'omino del sonno.Close your eyes, the sandman is coming.
- AlessandroCosa ci porta l'omino del sonno?What does the sandman bring us?
- MartinaPorta sogni magici per tutti.He brings magical dreams for everyone.
- AlessandroAllora vado a dormire subito!Then I'm going to sleep right away!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “sandman” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
