siesta

period of sleep

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

July 21, 2026

Quick Summary

A siesta is a short sleep, often taken after lunch. It is also referred to as a nap, doze, snooze, catnap, wink, drowse, forty winks, or kip (chiefly British). People may take a siesta to rest before resuming work, especially when it is cooler. Related terms include rest, slumber, bed, and repose.12

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

2 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

Spain
Organization of the day
…followed by a nap—the famous siesta—but, because most people now commute between home and work, this custom is in decline. Supper, a lighter meal, is also taken late, between 9:00 and 10:00 pm, or even later during the hot summer months.
Read More
…followed by a nap—the famous siesta—but, because most people now commute between home and work, this custom is in decline. Supper, a lighter meal, is also taken late, between 9:00 and 10:00 pm, or even later during the hot summer months.
Read More