dormire
/dorˈmi.re/
The English verb 'to sleep' is translated into Italian as dormire.
The verb dormire is the most common and general way to say 'to sleep' in Italian. You can use the expression andare a dormire to mean 'to go to sleep', similar to the English phrase. If you want to describe the state of sleep itself, you use the noun sonno, such as in the expression cadere in un sonno profondo (to fall into a deep sleep).
Meaning: to rest in state of reduced consciousness (verb)
Which one should you use?
Use the verb dormire to describe the action of sleeping. In contrast, use the noun sonno to refer to the state of being asleep or the quality of sleep.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The first-person singular present indicative form of dormire is dormo (I sleep), and the past participle is dormito (slept).
When do people say it?
If you are referring to a short nap or a power nap, particularly one taken during the day, the noun pennichella is used.
Did you know?
- In Italian, if you are 'sleepy', you do not say you 'are sleep', but rather that you 'have sleep', using the verb avere with the noun sonno.
- If someone is a 'heavy sleeper' in Italian, they are often described as someone who dorme come un sasso, or 'sleeps like a stone'.
- In Italy, the custom of the riposino or pennichella is historically linked to the midday heat, where businesses often close for several hours to allow people to sleep and avoid the sun.
Examples in context
- È ora di dormire.It's time to sleep.This sentence shows how to use dormire to say it is time to sleep.Tatoeba #387012 by Pharamp, translation #936657 by CM
- Dan va a dormire.Dan is going to sleep.This sentence uses dormire to indicate someone is going to sleep.Tatoeba #4072483 by Guybrush88, translation #13077298 by rul
- Vai a dormire ora.Go to sleep now.This sentence uses dormire to give a command to go to sleep.Tatoeba #5571800 by Guybrush88, translation #3177985 by CK
- Dormo beneI sleep well
- Il mio sonno è profondoMy sleep is deep
- È tardi, dovrei andare a dormireIt's late, I should go to sleep
- Mi accorgo a malapena di quando cado in un sonno profondoI barely notice when I fall into a deep sleep
- Vado a riposarmi un po'I'm going to rest a bit
- Farò una pennichellaI'll take a short nap
- Ho dormito tranquillamente la scorsa notteI slept peacefully last night
- Hai bisogno di dormire di piùYou need to get more sleep
- Ho dormito bene.I slept well.
- 696 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Chiara and Lorenzo are talking in their bedroom at night.
- ChiaraSei stanco? Vuoi dormire?Are you tired? Do you want to sleep?
- LorenzoSì, ho voglia di dormire subito.Yes, I want to sleep right away.
- ChiaraAllora Lorenzo, buona notte.Then Lorenzo, good night.
- LorenzoBuona notte a te, Chiara.Good night to you, Chiara.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “sleep” translations and entries dormire, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
