If you say the word siesta to any British person they will automatically think of Spain, sunshine, and a little post-lunch nap. The word, of course, comes from Latin and we can actually use it in English too.

Where did the word “siesta” originate?

The Romans divided the day into twelve hours of daylight and twelve hours of darkness. The sexta hora  or sixth hour fell around midday. It was the hottest part of the day, and also the sleepiest. Over time, sexta became siesta, and the tradition of stopping for a rest in the early afternoon lived on.

Bonus Vocabulary

In Britain, we don’t tend to stop everything in the middle of the day for a long lunch and a nap, but don’t be fooled we love a little lie-down just as much as anyone else. We might not always call it a siesta, here are some alternative ways to say it:

To doze off

To fall asleep lightly or unintentionally - generally on the sofa in front of the telly

To nod off

To begin sleeping, often while sitting upright

Catnap / power nap

A short nap, often 10–20 minutes long

To have forty winks

An informal British phrase for a short sleep or nap

To crash out

To fall asleep quickly, often due to exhaustion

To drop off

To fall asleep gradually

To snooze

To sleep lightly or briefly

😴 Sounding Tired the British Way

If you're feeling tired, you can say so… but where’s the fun in that? Everyone knows the adjective “tired”. Let’s make your vocabulary more colourful with some alternatives!

In Britain, we like to mix it up:

Maybe you're shattered after a long week, or worn out from chasing after the kids all day. Perhaps you're knackered (very British, very informal) because your neighbours had a party and you didn't sleep a wink. You might be running on empty, just trying to make it to bedtime or you’re feeling burnt out after back-to-back meetings.

Whatever type fatigue you are suffering from, there’s a phrase for it. Now, doesn’t that make needing some sleep sound more… sophisticated?

Mini Challenge

Have you tried the “coffee siesta”? Supposedly you have a coffee before you go for a nap. After around twenty-ish minutes the caffeine kicks in and you wake up as fresh as a daisy - feeling rested and not groggy. 

To kick in - empezar a hacer efecto 

As fresh as a daisy - como una rosa 

Groggy - aturdido

❌ Common Mistake

Incorrect: “I did a siesta.”

Correct: “I had a nap.” or “I took a siesta.”

We don’t “do” a nap or siesta -  we have or take one.

Until next time  may your sofa be soft and your siesta uninterrupted!

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