How to Pronounce Sleepwalking
Definition, meaning, and phonetic spelling
Sleepwalking Pronunciation
SLEEP-waw-king
Stressed syllable in ALL CAPS · hyphens separate syllables
Syllable Breakdown
SLEEP
stress here
waw
king
3 syllables
What is Sleepwalking?
A parasomnia in which a person walks or performs complex behaviors while in a state of partial arousal from deep non-REM sleep. The person is usually difficult to wake and has no memory of the episode. It is more common in children and tends to run in families.
Questions About Sleepwalking
How do you pronounce 'sleepwalking'?
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Sleepwalking is pronounced SLEEP-waw-king. Say "sleep" like you normally would, then say "waw" (rhymes with "law"), and finish with "king" like the word "king." Put the stress on the first syllable: SLEEP-waw-king.
How many syllables does 'sleepwalking' have?
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Sleepwalking has three syllables: sleep-walk-ing. You can count them by clapping once for each part as you say the word out loud.
Which syllable is stressed in 'sleepwalking'?
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The first syllable, SLEEP, is stressed—that's where you put the emphasis. A common mistake is stressing the middle syllable (sleep-WALK-ing), but that's incorrect. Remember: SLEEP-waw-king.
What does 'sleepwalking' mean in plain English?
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Sleepwalking is when someone gets up and walks around or does activities while they're asleep. The person is in a kind of in-between state—not fully awake, but not fully asleep either. It's like their body is moving even though their mind is still sleeping.
What do the two word parts of 'sleepwalking' mean?
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Sleepwalking is made of two everyday English words: "sleep" (the state of rest) and "walking" (moving on your feet). When you combine them, you get a compound word that describes the act of walking while in the state of sleep.
Is there a shorter way to say 'sleepwalking'?
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Yes, you can simply call it a "parasomnia," which is a medical term for abnormal behaviors that happen during sleep. However, "sleepwalking" is the common, everyday way most people refer to it.
What's the difference between 'sleepwalking' and 'sleepwalker'?
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"Sleepwalking" is the action or condition itself (the activity of walking while asleep), while a "sleepwalker" is a person who does this. If someone experiences sleepwalking, they are called a sleepwalker.
What are some related words that use 'sleep'?
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You might hear words like "sleepless" (unable to sleep), "sleepwear" (clothing worn to bed), or "sleepy" (feeling tired). These all share the word "sleep," but sleepwalking is unique because it combines sleep with an action.