siesta

noun

si·​es·​ta sē-ˈe-stə 

: an afternoon nap or rest

Synonyms of siesta

• nap

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

Those sprawling views continued into our room, which featured a spacious balcony that quickly became our favorite spot for mid-day siestas. — Kasey Busiel, Vogue, 17 July 2026

Take an afternoon siesta at your accommodation, or grab a bite at hotel bars and cafes, which are the best places to find air-conditioning, Gacheny said. — The New York Times News Service Syndicate, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 July 2026

Get the brisket elotes and pork belly burnt ends, and be sure to pencil in a siesta afterward. — Nathanael Gassett, Bon Appetit Magazine, 26 May 2026

As is customary for the exponentially gifted among us, Gilbert Chevalier’s gifts for playing football, not soccer, with its robotic evocation of socks and fouls, but football, poetic, sensual, democratic football, earned him triumph and glory and even a brief siesta on top of the world. — Literary Hub, 13 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

1655, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for siesta

• cuesta
• festa
• testa
• vesta
• avesta
• digesta
• fiesta
• podesta

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.