Spanish Phrase
Tengo sueño.
Meaning
A simple statement meaning ‘I’m sleepy.’ It tells the listener that the speaker feels drowsy and would like to rest or go to bed.
When to use
Use it when you want to express that you feel the need to sleep, whether after a long day, after lunch, or before bedtime. It’s informal and works in everyday conversation, but you can also use it in a polite way to decline an invitation.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Tengosueño
tener (present)
‘Tengo’ is the first‑person singular present of the verb ‘tener’, used here to express a physical state rather than possession.
sueño (noun)
‘Sueño’ means ‘sleepiness’ (or ‘dream’ in other contexts). When paired with ‘tener’, it conveys the feeling of being sleepy.
tener + noun for sensations
Spanish often uses ‘tener’ with nouns like ‘hambre’, ‘sed’, ‘frío’, ‘calor’, ‘sueño’ to talk about bodily sensations.
🗨In Conversation
¿Quieres salir a cenar?
Do you want to go out for dinner?
No, tengo sueño.
No, I’m sleepy.
✕Common Mistakes
Soy sueño.
‘Ser’ is used for permanent traits, not temporary sensations. Use ‘tener’ instead.
Tengo el sueño.
The article ‘el’ changes the meaning to ‘the dream’, not ‘sleepiness’. Drop the article.
Estoy sueño.
‘Estar’ does not collocate with ‘sueño’. Use ‘tengo sueño’ or ‘me da sueño’.
↔Alternatives
Estoy cansado.
I’m tired.
Me da sueño.
I feel like sleeping.
Tengo sueño, me voy a la cama.
I’m sleepy, I’m going to bed.
Cultural Tip
In many Spanish‑speaking countries a short afternoon nap, the ‘siesta’, is common after lunch. Saying ‘tengo sueño’ around 2 p.m. often signals a desire for a quick rest. In formal settings you might prefer ‘estoy cansado/a’ to avoid sounding overly casual.