What is the Latin word for sleepy?

The usual Latin words for “sleepy” are dormītō, ōscitō, tardus; also lentus, sēgnis, conciliō. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

English → Latin

“sleepy” in Latin

dormītōto slumber; to feel sleepy, drowsy; to do nothing ōscitōto open one's mouth, gape; to open out, unfold; to gape with weariness, yawn tardusslow, sluggish; tardy; late, lingering lentussticky, tenacious; slow, sluggish; flexible, pliant sēgnisslow, tardy, torpid, inactive, unenergetic, lazy conciliōTo unite; to bring together; to reconcile; to conciliate; To recommend.; To procure; to gain.somnīculōsussleepy, drowsy; sluggish, slothful; making sleepy, drowsy or sluggish

Riddle & Arnold A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon, 1864

sleepy

Drowsy, (α) as a temporary state, dormitans (beginning to sleep): somni plenus; somno gravis (overcome with sleep): somni indigens (needing sleep): oscitans (yawning). To be sleepy, dormitare (to be falling asleep): somni indigere (to want sleep): somno urgeri ultra debitum (to be unusually drowsy). (β) As a characteristic or permanent state, somniculosus; somno deditus (☞ somnolentus is found only in later writers).

Figuratively, Slow, tardus: lentus: segnis.

Soporific, qui somnum affert or conciliat; soporificus.

Quick answer

What is the Latin word for sleepy?: The usual Latin words for “sleepy” are dormītō, ōscitō, tardus; also lentus, sēgnis, conciliō. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

Entry from J. E. Riddle & T. K. Arnold, A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon (rev. C. Anthon, New York: Harper, 1864), digitised by Fergus J. P. Walsh, CC BY-SA 4.0; Latin markup adapted by latindictionary.co.