schlafen wie ein Murmeltier
The English phrase 'sleep like a log' can be translated into German as schlafen wie ein Murmeltier. If unsure, use schlafen wie ein Murmeltier. Wiktionary also lists schlafen wie ein Stein.
Meaning: to sleep well, without disturbance (verb)
Ways to say it
| German |
|---|
| schlafen wie ein Murmeltier |
| schlafen wie ein Stein |
These expressions are used to describe sleeping very well and without disturbance.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase schlafen wie ein Murmeltier literally translates to 'to sleep like a marmot'.
Which one should you use?
While English uses 'a log' to describe deep sleep, German uses ein Murmeltier (a marmot) to convey the same meaning. Another common way to express this is schlafen wie ein Stein, which translates to 'to sleep like a stone'. Other alternatives include schlafen wie ein Baby (to sleep like a baby) and schlafen wie ein Toter (to sleep like the dead).
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb schlafen is an irregular verb. In the third person singular present tense, the stem vowel changes from 'a' to 'ä', as seen in the phrase er schläft wie ein Murmeltier.
Did you know?
Examples in context
- Ich habe gestern so gut geschlafen, ich habe geschlafen wie ein Murmeltier!I slept so well yesterday, I slept like a log!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “sleep like a log” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Murmeltier, Stein, ein, schlafen, wie, CC BY-SA 4.0.
