How to Say “Sleep With the Angels” in Spanish

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que duermas con los angelitos
/ke dweɾmas kon los anxelitos/from spelling rules
The English phrase "sleep with the angels" is translated into Spanish as que duermas con los angelitos.
This phrase is a sweet way to wish someone a peaceful night's sleep. It is primarily used as a way to say goodnight to children to make them feel safe and peaceful. Other related sentiments include Que sueñes con angelitos, which encourages the person to dream with little angels or Duerme bien y que los ángeles te cuiden, meaning "Sleep well and may the angels take care of you".

What does it mean word for word?

The phrase literally translates to "may you sleep with the little angels". The word angelitos is the diminutive form of ángeles (angels).

Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?

The default form que duermas con los angelitos uses the informal tú conjugation, making it appropriate for children or close family members. For a formal or respectful version, you can use Duerma con los angelitos or the longer Duerma bien y que los ángeles le cuiden. Additionally, Que tenga dulces sueños can be used to formally convey the sentiment "May you have sweet dreams".

How does it change in a sentence?

The phrase is a subjunctive expression of a wish, which is why it begins with que (meaning "may you…"). To use this phrase for a third person (he/she) or for the formal "you", change the verb from duermas to duerma.

Did you know?

  • While English speakers say 'sleep with the angels' to mean a peaceful night, in some Spanish-speaking contexts, this specific phrase can also be a euphemism for someone who has passed away.
  • The word con shares its ancient roots with the English word 'cum' used in phrases like 'magna cum laude', both tracing back to the Proto-Indo-European word for 'along' or 'with'.
  • The word que in this context does not mean 'what' as it often does in questions, but functions as a way to express a wish or desire.

Examples in context

  • Buenas noches, hija, que duermas con los angelitos.
    Good night, daughter, sleep with the angels.
  • Ve a la cama, que duermas con los angelitos.
    Go to bed, sleep with the angels.
  • Descansa mucho y que duermas con los angelitos.
    Rest a lot and sleep with the angels.

Example conversation

A mother tucking her son into bed at night.

  1. Lucía

    Es hora de dormir, mi niño.
    It is time to sleep, my boy.
  2. Javier

    Está bien, mamá.
    Okay, mom.
  3. Lucía

    Que duermas con los angelitos, te quiero.
    Sleep with the angels, I love you.
  4. Javier

    Gracias, mamá, buenas noches.
    Thanks, mom, good night.

Sources

  • IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
  • Word origins: Wiktionary entries con, los, que, CC BY-SA 4.0.
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