German word

einschlafen

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈaɪ̯nˌʃlaːfən/

Meaning

  • verbfall asleep

Example

Ich schlafe manchmal im Bus ein.

I sometimes fall asleep on the bus.

Illustration for einschlafen (fall asleep)

More examples

Er schläft oft mit Musik ein.

He often falls asleep with music.

Core concept

A person crosses the boundary from alertness into sleep, and a limb can similarly lose its normal sensation.

Common phrases

  • abends schnell einschlafen

    fall asleep quickly in the evening

  • mit Musik einschlafen

    fall asleep with music

Similar words

einpennen: To suddenly fall asleep, often without noticing it happen.
einnicken: To briefly nod off while seated, with the head dropping forward.
einschlummern: To quietly and gradually drift into sleep.
dösen: To hover between wakefulness and light sleep in a dreamy state.

Definition in German

langsam oder plötzlich in den Schlaf sinken; den Schlafzustand erreichen.

Word origin

The separable verb combines ein- ('in' or 'into') with schlafen ('to sleep'), forming the sense of entering sleep.

Usage tips

  • In the present tense, the separable prefix moves to the end: Ich schlafe im Bus ein.

Other meanings

  • nod offverb
  • go numbverb

Opposites

Related words

  • das Einschlafritualfalling-asleep ritualnoun
  • die Einschlafzeittime to fall asleepnoun
  • schläfrigsleepyadjective

Word lists with this word