
In Greek mythology, Hypnos (Ὕπνος), also spelled Hypnus, is the personification of sleep. The word hypnosis is derived from the Greek root hypn/o, which means sleep. Another Greek root for sleep is somn/o, which is derived from the Latin word somnus. The word insomnia, for instance, uses the root somn to describe a condition of difficulty sleeping. The Greek word koimame (κοιμάμαι), meaning to sleep, is also the root of another word, koimitirion (κοιμητήριο), which means dormitory.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Greek root meaning sleep | hypn/o, derived from the Greek word hypnos |
| Latin root meaning sleep | somn/o, derived from the Latin word somnus |
| Variant form of somn/o | somn/i |
| Word derived from hypn/o root | hypnosis |
| Word derived from somn/o root | insomnia |
| Greek word for "to sleep" | koimame |
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What You'll Learn
- 'Hypnos' is the Greek god of sleep, and the root of the word 'hypnosis'
- 'Somnus' is the Latin word for sleep, with roots in Greek
- 'Somn/o' is a root used in medical terminology, such as 'somnography'
- 'Somn/i' is a variant of 'somn/o' and is used interchangeably in terms related to sleep
- 'Koimame' (κοιμάμαι) is the Greek word for to sleep, and the root of 'dormitory' (κοιμητήριο)

'Hypnos' is the Greek god of sleep, and the root of the word 'hypnosis'
Hypnos is the Greek god of sleep and dreams, and the root of the word hypnosis. In Greek mythology, Hypnos is the personification of sleep and the equivalent of the Roman god Somnus. His name is derived from the Proto-Indo-European root "sup-no", which means sleep.
Hypnos is the son of Nyx, the goddess of night, and the twin brother of Thanatos, the god of death. Both siblings reside in the underworld, in a cave where night and day meet, known as the Land of Dreams. Hypnos' bed is made of ebony, and the entrance to his cave is surrounded by poppies and other soporific plants. The river Lethe, also known as the river of forgetfulness, flows through the cave, imbued with the power of the god, enabling those who drink from it to forget their worries.
Hypnos is often depicted as a handsome man with wings sprouting from his temples or shoulders. He is a calm and gentle god, aiding humans in need by helping them sleep and dream. He is also known for his role in tricking Zeus by putting him to sleep at the request of Hera, who wanted to aid the Greeks in their war against Troy. In return for his services, Hypnos was given Pasithea, one of the Graces, as his wife.
The name of the Greek god of sleep, Hypnos, is the root of the word hypnosis. The root "'hypn/o" is derived from the Greek word "hypnos", meaning sleep. This root is commonly used in medical terminology related to sleep, such as the word hypnosis, which describes a sleep-like state.
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'Somnus' is the Latin word for sleep, with roots in Greek
The Latin word for sleep is "Somnus", which is derived from the Latin word "somno" or "somnus". The root "somn/o" is also used in medical terminology related to sleep, such as "somnography", a method used to record various aspects of sleep. The Latin root "somn" is also the basis for words like "somnolent", which means sleepy, and "somnambulist", which refers to a sleepwalker.
In Greek, the word for sleep is "Hypnos", which is also the name of the Greek god of sleep and the fatherless son of Nyx ("The Night"). The Greek root "hypn/o" is related to sleep and is used in words like "hypnosis", which describes a sleep-like state.
The Latin word "Somnus" and the Greek word "Hypnos" are equivalent, with both representing the personification of sleep in their respective mythologies. The Roman equivalent of the Greek god Hypnos is Somnus.
The roots "somn/o" and "hypn/o" are commonly referenced in medical terminology related to sleep. For example, the word insomnia uses the root "somn" to describe a condition of difficulty sleeping.
The Proto-Indo-European root "swep-no-" or "sup-no-" is also believed to be related to sleep, with derivatives in various languages, including Sanskrit, Avestan, Greek, Latin, Lithuanian, Old Church Slavonic, Old Irish, and Welsh.
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'Somn/o' is a root used in medical terminology, such as 'somnography'
The root "somn/o" is derived from the Latin word "somnus", which means sleep. Its variant form, "somn/i", is used interchangeably in many terms related to sleep. For example, the word insomnia uses the root "somn" to describe a condition of difficulty sleeping. The root "somn/o" is commonly referenced in medical terminology. Sleep studies frequently use terms derived from these roots, such as "somnography", a method used to record various aspects of sleep.
The root "somn/o" is also related to the word somnolent, which means sleepy.
In Greek mythology, the equivalent of the Latin "somnus" is "Hypnos", the personification of sleep. Hypnos is the god of sleep and the twin brother of "Thanatos", or Death. Both siblings live in the underworld, or Hades. According to the Dutch linguist Robert S. P. Beekes, the name "Hypnos" derives from the Proto-Indo-European root "sup-no-", meaning sleep.
The root "hypn/o", which is derived from the Greek word "hypnos", is also commonly used in medical terminology related to sleep. For example, hypnosis incorporates the root "hypn" and relates to a sleep-like state.
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'Somn/i' is a variant of 'somn/o' and is used interchangeably in terms related to sleep
The Latin root "somn/o" means sleep and is derived from the Latin word "somnus". The variant "somn/i" is used interchangeably with "somn/o" in many terms related to sleep. For example, the word insomnia uses the root "somn" to describe a condition of difficulty sleeping. The root "somn" is also used in the word "somnolent", which means sleepy.
The root "somn" is commonly referenced in medical terminology. Sleep studies frequently use terms derived from these roots, such as "somnography", a method used to record various aspects of sleep.
In Greek mythology, the personification of sleep is "Hypnos", from which the word "hypnosis" derives. "Hypnos" is also the root of the word "hypn/o", which is another term related to sleep.
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'Koimame' (κοιμάμαι) is the Greek word for to sleep, and the root of 'dormitory' (κοιμητήριο)
The Greek root "hypn/o", derived from the Greek word "hypnos", means sleep. This root is commonly used in medical terminology related to sleep, such as in the word "hypnosis", which refers to a sleep-like state.
Another Greek root with a similar meaning is "somn/o", which is derived from the Latin word "somnus", also meaning sleep. This root is also prevalent in medical terminology, for example, in the word "insomnia", which describes a condition of difficulty sleeping.
However, the word "koimame" (κοιμάμαι) is indeed the Greek verb for "to sleep", and the root of the noun "koimētērio" (κοιμητήριο), which means "dormitory". The word "koimame" is also related to the Greek word "koimēsis" (κοίμηση), which means "falling asleep" or "sleep".
In Greek mythology, Hypnos (/ˈhɪpnɒs/; Ancient Greek: Ὕπνος), also spelled Hypnus, is the personification of sleep. He is usually depicted as the fatherless son of Nyx ("The Night"), although sometimes Nyx's consort Erebus ("The Darkness") is named as his father. His twin brother is Thanatos, or "Death", and they both reside in the underworld (Hades).
According to the Dutch linguist Robert S. P. Beekes, the name "Hypnos" is derived from the Proto-Indo-European root "sup-no-", which also means "sleep". This root has evolved into different forms across languages, including the Latin "somnus" and Greek "hypnos", both of which have been integrated into medical terminology related to sleep.
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Frequently asked questions
hypn/o.
The root word hypn/o comes from the Greek word hypnos, which means sleep.
Somnus.
The name of the Greek god of sleep, Hypnos.
Koimame (κοιμάμαι).









































