Definition
To sleep; to be in the natural resting state where your eyes are closed and your body recovers.
Example
I bambini dormono sempre dopo pranzo.
Show translation
The children always sleep after lunch.
Etymology
From Latin *dormīre* ("to sleep"), from Proto-Indo-European *dʰreHm-* ("to sleep, be torpid"). Cognate with French *dormir*, Spanish *dormir*, and Portuguese *dormir* — all remarkably stable across the Romance family.
Cultural note
The post-lunch rest — the *pisolino* (nap) — is a cherished habit in many parts of Italy, especially in smaller towns and warmer southern regions. Shops traditionally closed for two to three hours in the early afternoon, in part to allow for this rest. While the custom is less universal in modern urban life, *dormire un po' dopo pranzo* remains culturally relatable to most Italians.