Some people need more sleep than others, but who doesn’t enjoy a good night sleep or even taking a nap during the day? Talking about how you slept and sleeping habits in general are topics which are highly likely to come up in everyday conversation. For you to be able to properly engage it is important to know a few words and expressions.

 

Expressions:

1. Cair da cama

Meaning: it translates literary as to fall off the bed and it means to wake up earlier than usual.

Example: Maria caiu da cama hoje! Mary woke up really early today!

 

2. Acordar com as galinhas

Meaning: it translates literally as to wake up with the hens and it means to wake up early.

Example: Meu avô acorda com as galinhas todos os dias. My grandpa wakes up early every day.

 

3. Acordar novo em folha.

Meaning: this expression is simple to understand even though its words don’t translate the meaning literally. It means simply to wake up feeling rested, fresh.

(The expression “novo em folha” by itself means brand new).

Example: Eu acordei novo em folha. I woke up feeling rested.

 

4. Dormir a sono solto

Meaning: it means to be fast asleep.

Example: Joana dormia a sono solto quando eu cheguei. Joana was fast asleep when I arraved.

 

5. Não conseguir pregar os olhos

Meaning: not to get a wink of sleep

Example: Eu não consegui pregar os olhos essa noite. I didn’t get a wink of sleep last night.

 

6. Ter sono leve

Meaning: to be a light sleeper

Example: Fale baixo, por favor, minha filha tem sono leve. Talk quietly please, my daughter is a light sleeper.

 

7. Dormir como uma pedra

Meaning: this translates literally as sleep like a rock and it actually means to sleep like a baby.

Example: Ontem a noite eu dormi como uma pedra. Last night I slept like a baby.

 

8. Apagar/capotar

Meaning: be out like a light

Example: Jorge estava tão cansado que apagou em minutos. Jorge was so tired that he was out like a light in minutes.

 

9. Passar a noite em claro

Meaning: spend a sleepless night

Example: Ontem eu passei a noite em claro pensando em você. Last night I spent a sleepless night thinking about you.

 

10. Virar a noite + action (verb with ndo)

Meaning: do something through the night.

Example: Eu e meu amigo viramos a noite conversando. My friend and I talked through the night.

 

11. Varar a noite + action (ndo)

Meaning: pull an all-nighter

Example: Natália varou a noite estudando. Natália pulled an all-nighter studying.

 

Words:

1. Acordar X Levantar: acordar is to wake up whereas levantar is to get up.

 

2. Dormir: to sleep/to fall asleep

 

3. Cochilar/tirar um cochilo/tirar uma soneca: to sleep for a small period of time. Take a nap.

• Example: Eu cochilei/tirei um cochilo depois do almoço. I took a nap after lunch.

 

4. Pescar: this word translates literally as fishing, however, it has another very interesting meaning in Portuguese. When a person (or animal) is standing up or sitting down but nearly falling asleep, as their eyes begin to close and their head drops suddenly, Brazilians say they are pescando.

• Example: Bruna passou a viagem de trem pescando ao meu lado. Bruna spent the train journey pescando beside me.

 

5. Estar com sono: to be sleepy / estar sem sono: not to be sleepy.

• Example: Eu quero dormir, mas estou sem sono. I want to sleep, but I’m not sleepy.

 

6. Roncar: to snore

 

Now go ahead and try out these words and expressions tomorrow morning when someone asks you if you slept well!