pastillas para dormir
/pastiʝas paɾa doɾmiɾ/from spelling rules
In Spanish, sleeping pills is translated as pastillas para dormir.
The phrase refers to medication taken in pill form to help a person fall asleep or stay asleep. To describe the act of consuming the medication, use the verb tomar with the phrase, as in tomar pastillas para dormir (to take sleeping pills).
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of pastillas (pills), para (for/to) and dormir (to sleep).
How do you pronounce it?
/pastiʝas paɾa doɾmiɾ/
Did you know?
- The word pastillas literally means 'little pastes', because it is a diminutive of pasta, which refers to a dough or a thick substance.
- The word dormir shares a common ancestor with the English word 'dormitory'. Both derive from the Latin dormīre and the Proto-Indo-European root for 'to sleep'.
- While pastillas para dormir is the literal term, Spanish speakers often use the term somníferos in medical or formal contexts. This word comes from the Latin somnus meaning 'sleep' and ferre meaning 'to bring'.
Examples in context
- Necesito pastillas para dormir.I need sleeping pills.This sentence is useful for expressing a need for pastillas para dormir.Tatoeba #4395157 by ponisio7, translation #436871 by lukaszpp
- Tom se tomó tres pastillas para dormir.Tom took three sleeping pills.This sentence is useful for describing the quantity of pastillas para dormir taken.Tatoeba #3961276 by senryakun, translation #3956104 by CK
- «¿Dónde habré dejado mis pastillas para dormir?» «¿Has mirado en tu mesilla de noche?»"Where did I leave my sleeping pills?" "Did you check on your nightstand?"This sentence shows a conversation about the location of pastillas para dormir.Tatoeba #10041704 by Shishir, translation #10042704 by DJ_Saidez
Example conversation
Elena and Javier are talking about their health at home.
- ElenaNo puedo descansar, ¿tienes pastillas para dormir?I can't rest, do you have any sleeping pills?
- JavierNo tengo, pero puedo ir a la farmacia.I don't have any, but I can go to the pharmacy.
- ElenaGracias, Javier, me ayudaría mucho.Thanks, Javier, it would help me a lot.
- JavierEstá bien, Elena, voy ahora mismo.All right, Elena, I'm going right now.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries dormir, para, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
