Learn the synonyms of dormire to enrich your vocabulary:
dormire
riposare
fare un sonnellino
assopirsi
When learning Italian, beginning with essential verbs and then adding richer, more nuanced options helps you broaden your ability to express yourself with confidence.
Today, let’s take a closer look at the verb “dormire” and explore four Italian verbs/expressions you can choose depending on the context, register, or style.
Level 1: Dormire (Beginner)
This is the basic verb meaning to sleep, used constantly in daily life by everyone. It works in all ordinary situations and is one of the first verbs beginners learn. It is a regular verb and it is conjugated like this:
Examples:
Di solito dormo otto ore per notte.
(I usually sleep eight hours per night.)
Ieri, ho dormito benissimo.
(Yesterday, I slept really well.)
Level 2: Riposare (Elementary)
Riposare means to rest, but it is often used as a gentler or broader alternative to dormire. It doesn’t always imply actual sleep—sometimes it just means lying down or taking a break. This is also a regular verb.
Examples:
Dopo pranzo preferisco riposare un po’.
(After lunch I like to rest for a bit.)
Non ho dormito molto, ma almeno mi sono riposato.
(I didn’t sleep much, but at least I rested.)
Level 3: Fare un sonnellino (Intermediate)
Fare un sonnellino means to take a nap. It refers specifically to a short or light sleep, usually during the day, and is common in informal conversation.
Examples:
Sul treno ho fatto un sonnellino.
(On the train I took a nap.)
Il gatto sta facendo un sonnellino sul divano.
(The cat is taking a nap on the sofa.)
Level 4: Assopirsi (Advanced)
Assopirsi is a more elegant, sometimes literary verb meaning to fall asleep gradually, to drift off, or to become drowsy. It conveys a softer, slower movement towards sleep.
Examples:
Mi sono assopito ascoltando la musica.
(I drifted off while listening to music.)
La nonna si è assopita sulla poltrona.
(Grandma nodded off in the armchair.)
Further note
Italian also has the colloquial schiacciare un pisolino, meaning “to have a nap”. It’s informal and very common in everyday conversation.
There are also other verbs related to dormire, such as coricarsi, appisolarsi, and dormicchiare. Do you know what they mean?
The key to really learning these new words is to use them in speaking. Research shows that if you start practising them out loud, they become part of your active vocabulary — but if you don’t, they’re easy to forget.
Not enrolled in a class where you can speak Italian regularly? We still have a few places left in our next courses — book your free trial here and start using your new vocabulary today!
Would you like to know more about the word mangiare. Click here.
