somnoler
doze
The French verb "somnoler" means to doze, to nap lightly, or to drowse. It describes a state between wakefulness and sleep, often when someone is resting briefly with eyes partly closed but not fully asleep.
Meaning and usage:
- It implies a light sleep, often involuntary or brief.
- It can be used for people or animals.
- Example: Le chat somnole au soleil. (The cat is dozing in the sun.)
Synonyms and differences:
- Dormir: Means "to sleep" in a general, full sense. Implies regular or deep sleep.
- S'assoupir: Similar to somnoler, means to doze off, but emphasizes the drifting into light sleep.
- Faire une sieste: Means "to take a nap," usually a deliberate rest during the day.
- Se reposer: Means "to rest," not necessarily sleeping but relaxing.
So, somnoler specifically refers to a light, often momentary sleep state, less deep than dormir and usually less intentional than faire une sieste.
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Examples
Si tu continues à somnoler en classe, tu n'apprendras rien.verb
If you keep dozing in class, you will not learn anything.
Après avoir lu quelques pages de son livre, il a fini par somnoler au coin du feu.verb
After reading a few pages of his book, he ended up dozing by the fireside.
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