Ways to say it
| French | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| somnolent | /sɔm.nɔ.lɑ̃/ | masculine |
| ensuqué | ||
| ensommeillé | /ɑ̃.sɔ.mɛ.je/ /ɑ̃.sɔ.me.je/ |
masculine |
These terms describe the sensation of needing sleep or feeling drowsy. While you can use these adjectives, French speakers most commonly express the state of being sleepy using the idiom avoir sommeil.
Which one should you use?
somnolent is a more formal or clinical term than ensommeillé.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
somnolent is often used in medical or scientific contexts to describe drowsiness. Note that the slang term crevé is a popular and informal way in France to say you are exhausted, equivalent to saying 'I'm beat' or 'I'm knackered'.
How does it change in a sentence?
The masculine forms are somnolent and ensommeillé. To describe a female, use the feminine forms somnolente and ensommeillée.
How do you pronounce it?
/sɔm.nɔ.lɑ̃/ (3 syllables)
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid saying je suis sommeil, which translates to 'I am sleep'. Instead, use the phrase j'ai sommeil (literally 'I have sleepiness') to express that you are sleepy.
Did you know?
- French speakers often use the expression avoir un coup de barre to describe a sudden, overwhelming wave of sleepiness, typically during the mid-afternoon.
- While you might feel 'sleepy', if you are actually 'dead tired', you can use the slang term crevé, which literally translates to 'punctured' or 'burst' like a tire.
- The concept of 'having' a feeling like sommeil is common in French for many sensations, such as 'having hunger' or 'having thirst'.
Examples in context
- Je suis trop somnolent pour conduire.I'm too sleepy to drive.This sentence shows how to use somnolent to describe being too drowsy to perform an action.Tatoeba #1092071 by sacredceltic, translation #1091984 by CK
- Je me sens également très ensommeillé.I feel very sleepy, too.This sentence demonstrates the use of ensommeillé to express a feeling of sleepiness.Tatoeba #8631262 by sacredceltic, translation #3819140 by CK
- Il déclara à tout le monde qu'il était somnolent.He told everyone he was sleepy.This sentence shows how somnolent can be used to report a state of drowsiness.Tatoeba #9432638 by sacredceltic, translation #7398344 by CH
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Gabriel and Emma are studying in a library.
- GabrielJe suis vraiment somnolent après ce déjeuner.I am really sleepy after this lunch.
- EmmaTu devrais prendre un café, Gabriel.You should have a coffee, Gabriel.
- GabrielC'est une bonne idée, je n'arrive plus à me concentrer.That's a good idea, I can't concentrate anymore.
- EmmaDépêche-toi alors, on a encore beaucoup à lire.Hurry up then, we still have a lot to read.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “sleepy” translations and entries somnolent, ensommeillé, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
