siesta

noun

si·​es·​ta sē-ˈe-stə 

: an afternoon nap or rest

Synonyms

• catnap
• doze
• drowse
• forty winks
• kip [chiefly British]
• nap
• snooze
• wink

Examples of siesta in a Sentence

Most of the shops were closed after lunch for a two-hour siesta.

The shops are closed during siesta.

He's taking a little siesta out there on the patio.

Recent Examples on the Web

Relocating to a sunny Mediterranean city in Spain isn’t always just for a more relaxed lifestyle — although siestas are a definite plus. —Cnn.com Wire Service, The Mercury News, 19 Jan. 2024

This same study on siestas found that individuals who napped for more than 30 minutes were more likely to have a higher body weight, higher blood sugar levels and high blood pressure. —Good Housekeeping, 16 July 2023

According to People Who Actually Do It By Hannah Singleton As Norman and I acclimated to Tulum, measuring time in sunrises and siestas, we got invited to local activities, away from the tourist traps. —Geena Rocero, SELF, 26 June 2023

Additional recent research on siestas, a Spanish word referring to a midday nap or rest break, found that people who often took a siesta lasting 30 minutes or less were 21% less likely to have elevated blood pressure compared to those who didn't take naps at all. —Good Housekeeping, 16 July 2023

Word History

Etymology

Spanish, from Latin sexta (hora) noon, literally, sixth hour — more at sext

First Known Use

1655, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

siesta

noun

si·​es·​ta sē-ˈes-tə 

: a nap or rest especially in the afternoon

Etymology

from Spanish siesta "an afternoon nap or rest period," from Latin sexta (hora) "sixth (hour), noon"; so called because the Romans counted the hours from sunrise

Word Origin

In the ancient Roman way of keeping track of time, the hours of the day were counted from sunrise to sunset. The hour when the sun was most nearly directly overhead was their sixth hour, or sexta hora in Latin. As Latin developed into Spanish on the Iberian Peninsula, sexta became siesta. In some countries, like Spain, it may be too hot to work in the middle of the day. There it is the custom to take a short nap until the heat begins to lessen. This rest period is called siesta in Spanish, and this word has come directly into English with the same meaning.