dormilón
/doɾmiˈlon/masculine
The English phrase 'sleepyhead' is translated into Spanish as dormilón. Wiktionary also lists modorro and dormilona.
Meaning: sleepy person (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| dormilón | /doɾmiˈlon/ | masculine |
| modorro | /modoro/ (from spelling rules) | |
| dormilona | /doɾmiˈlona/ | feminine |
The term is used to refer to a person who is a sleepyhead.
Which one should you use?
While dormilón is a general term for a sleepyhead, modorro often carries a connotation of being groggy or sluggish from sleep.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Dormilón and dormilona are used informally. Modorro is a more colloquial or informal way to refer to a sleepyhead compared to the standard dormilón.
How does it change in a sentence?
The feminine form dormilona is used when referring to a female sleepyhead.
How do you pronounce it?
/doɾmiˈlon/
Did you know?
- The root of dormilón is the same root found in the English word 'dormitory'. Both come from the Latin 'dormire', meaning 'to sleep'.
- In many Spanish-speaking countries, calling a child dormilón is often seen as a term of endearment rather than a criticism of their laziness.
- In some Spanish-speaking regions, modorro is not just a person but a state of mind. A person can be estar modorro, meaning they are in a daze or half-asleep after waking up.
Examples in context
- Buenos días, dormilón.Good morning, you sleepyhead.This sentence is useful for a morning greeting using dormilón.Tatoeba #10159948 by Seael, translation #4421515 by Ooneykcall
- ¡Eh, dormilón, despierta!Hey, sleepyhead, wake up!This sentence is useful for telling someone to wake up using dormilón.Tatoeba #6147966 by Shishir, translation #7795994 by sharris123
- Vamos, dormilón. ¡Levántate!Come on, sleepyhead. Get up!This sentence is useful for telling someone to get up using dormilón.Tatoeba #6085354 by Danny_, translation #6082775 by Hybrid
- El señor Martínez es un dormilón. Siempre llega tarde a las reuniones.Mr. Martínez is a sleepyhead. He always arrives late to meetings.
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Javier is waking up late on a Sunday morning.
- Javier¿A qué hora te levantaste, dormilón?What time did you get up, sleepyhead?
- LucíaTodavía tengo mucho sueño, Javier.I'm still very sleepy, Javier.
- JavierEres un dormilón incurable.You are an incurable sleepyhead.
- LucíaEs que el colchón es muy cómodo.It's just that the mattress is very comfortable.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “sleepyhead” translations and entries dormilón, modorro, dormilona, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries dormilón, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
