نائم
na'im
The Arabic word for "sleeping" is نائم (na'im).
The term is used as an adjective to describe someone who is in the state of sleep or to describe things used to produce sleep.
Meaning: used for sleep, used to produce sleep (adj)
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Levantine Arabic, the verb بنام is used as the equivalent of the Modern Standard Arabic verb أنام.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form changes depending on the subject and the grammatical context. The feminine form is نائمة and the masculine plural form is نائمون. When the word is used as an object or in certain adverbial positions, it takes the accusative form نائماً.
How do you pronounce it?
na'im
When do people say it?
To announce your intention to go to sleep, you can use the phrase رايح أنام or بدي أروح أنام.
Did you know?
- The expression نام في العسل literally means 'he slept in honey', but it is used idiomatically to describe someone who is oblivious to what is happening around them.
- In many Arabic dialects, the phrase نوم العوافي is said to someone who is sleeping or has just woken up, wishing them a 'healthy' or 'beneficial' sleep.
- In some regions, if you wake someone up, they might reply with صح النوم, which literally means 'wake up the sleep' and is often used sarcastically for someone who woke up very late.
Examples in context
- توم نائم في غرفته.Tom is in his room sleeping.This sentence shows the use of نائم to describe someone's state.Tatoeba #4485264 by Safa_Alfulaij, translation #4052279 by CK
- لم يكن سامي نائما.Sami wasn't sleeping.This sentence illustrates the use of the word in a negative context.Tatoeba #7275212 by OsoHombre, translation #6474793 by OsoHombre
- وجدته نائما في بيته.I found him sleeping in his house.This sentence demonstrates the use of the word to describe a person found in a specific state.Tatoeba #1578486 by Amastan, translation #1572936 by fanty
- أحتاج إلى النوم الجيد.I need a good sleep.
- سأستريح قليلاً وأنام.I will rest for a while and sleep.
- سأخذ غفوة بسيطة قبل العمل.I will take a short nap before work.
- أصحابي بيناموا كتير.My friends sleep a lot.
- بدي أروح نام قبل ما أتأخر.I want to go sleep before I get late.
- في حد بينام في السيارة؟Is someone sleeping in the car?
- 20 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Omar and Sara are talking in their living room at night.
- عمر Omarهل الطفل نائم الآن؟hal al-tifl na'im al-aan?Is the baby sleeping now?
- سارة Saraنعم، هو نائم في سريره.na'am, huwa na'im fi saririhi.Yes, he is sleeping in his bed.
- عمر Omarجيد، أريد أن أنام أيضاً.jayyid, uridu an anama aydan.Good, I want to sleep too.
- سارة Saraتصبح على خير يا عمر.tusbih 'ala khayr ya Omar.Good night, Omar.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
