dormilón
/doɾmiˈlon/
In Spanish, the phrase 'sleepy head' is translated as dormilón.
This phrase is a playful way to describe someone who sleeps a lot or has difficulty waking up. It should not be confused with soñador, which refers to a 'dreamer' in a metaphorical or idealistic sense.
What does it mean word for word?
The word dormilón comes from the verb dormir (to sleep) and the suffix -ón, which is used to create nouns that denote an exaggerated characteristic or a tendency.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word changes based on gender and number. The feminine form is dormilona, and the plural form is dormilones.
How do you pronounce it?
/doɾmiˈlon/
Did you know?
- English shares a distant root with the verb dormir in words like 'dormitory' or 'dormant', which both come from the Latin dormire.
- The suffix -ón in dormilón can also be used for insults or to denote size, as seen in cabezón for someone with a large head.
- Spanish has a distinct word for the act of oversleeping, quedarse dormido, which is used even if the person is not naturally a dormilón.
Examples in context
- No soy dormilón, es que no pude dormir nada anoche.I'm not a sleepy-head, I just couldn't get any sleep last night.This sentence uses dormilón to deny being a sleepy head.Tatoeba #2975977 by hayastan, translation #9179849 by DJ_Saidez
- Buenos días, dormilón.Good morning, you sleepy head.This sentence uses dormilón as a friendly morning greeting.Tatoeba #10159948 by Seael, translation #4421514 by Ooneykcall
- Ana siempre se levanta tarde los domingos, es una verdadera dormilona.Ana always wakes up late on Sundays, she's a true sleepy head.
- ¡Oye, dormilón! ¿Ya es la hora de levantarte?Hey, sleepy head! Is it time to wake up yet?
- ¡Levántate ya, dormilón!Wake up already, sleepy head!
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lucía wakes up Daniel in the bedroom.
- Lucía¡Despierta ya, dormilón! Es mediodía.Wake up already, sleepy head! It's noon.
- DanielCinco minutos más, por favor.Five more minutes, please.
- LucíaNo, Daniel. Tienes que levantarte ahora.No, Daniel. You have to get up now.
- DanielEstá bien, ya me levanto.Alright, I'm getting up now.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry dormilón, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
