faire une sieste
To take a nap in French is faire une sieste.
The standard way to express the action of taking a nap is faire une sieste. An informal alternative you might hear is piquer un roupillon, which carries the nuance of 'grabbing a nap' or 'taking a quick nap'.
Meaning: sleep briefly (verb)
What does it mean word for word?
Literally, faire une sieste translates to 'to do a nap'.
Which one should you use?
While faire une sieste refers to a specific instance of napping, you can also use the phrase faire la sieste to describe the act or habit of napping more generally.
How does it change in a sentence?
In the phrase faire une sieste, you use the indefinite article une. However, it is very common to replace une with the definite article la to say faire la sieste.
Did you know?
- In French, the informal phrase piquer un roupillon uses the verb piquer, which literally means 'to sting' or 'to prick'.
- The word sieste is a direct loanword from the Spanish word 'siesta', reflecting the shared Mediterranean cultural tradition of midday rest.
- In some French regions, a midday nap is historically associated with the repos méridional, a tradition of resting during the hottest part of the day.
Examples in context
- Je vais faire une sieste.I'm gonna take a nap.This sentence shows how to state your intention to take a nap using faire une sieste.Tatoeba #1411425 by sacredceltic, translation #8400745 by Amastan
- J'allais faire une sieste.I was going to take a nap.This sentence uses the imperfect tense to say you were planning to faire une sieste.Tatoeba #2586249 by sacredceltic, translation #2544965 by CK
- Laisse-moi faire une sieste.Let me take a nap.This sentence is a way to ask to be allowed to faire une sieste.Tatoeba #7773466 by Aiji, translation #2675756 by CM
- Je vais faire une siesteI am going to take a nap
- Je vais piquer un roupillonI'm going to take a quick nap
- 18 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Chloé and Gabriel are talking in their living room in the afternoon.
- ChloéTu as l'air fatigué, Gabriel.You look tired, Gabriel.
- GabrielOui, je voudrais faire une sieste.Yes, I would like to take a nap.
- ChloéD'accord, repose-toi bien.Okay, rest well.
- GabrielMerci, Chloé.Thanks, Chloé.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries faire, sieste, une, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
