नींद आना

This phrase uses the dative case. This sounds fancy, but it just means you add को (ko) to the person feeling sleepy. So, 'I' becomes मुझको (mujhko) or the shorter मुझे (mujhe). You will mostly use it in the continuous tense: मुझे नींद आ रही है (I am feeling sleepy). If you want to say you 'started' feeling sleepy, you'd say नींद आने लगी. It is very flexible with time. You can use it for the past, present, or future.

Use this whenever you feel the urge to nap. It is perfect for late-night chats when you want to sign off. Use it after a heavy lunch like Rajma Chawal when the 'food coma' hits. It is also great for being honest in a boring situation. If a book is too dry, tell your friend मुझे नींद आ रही है. It is the universal signal for 'I need a bed right now.'

Do not confuse this with the verb सोना (sona), which means 'to sleep.' If you are already in bed and unconscious, you are सो रहे (sleeping). नींद आना is only for the transition period. Also, don't use it to mean you are 'bored' in a metaphorical sense unless you actually feel like nodding off. It is a physical description of tiredness.

In India, the afternoon siesta is a sacred ritual in many households. After a heavy, spicy meal, the 'sustee' (lethargy) kicks in. This is when you'll hear नींद आना the most. There is even a specific charm to the 'afternoon nap' culture in places like Bengal or Goa. It is not seen as laziness, but as a biological necessity after a good meal!

If you can't catch any Z's, you say नींद नहीं आ रही (Sleep isn't coming). If your sleep has vanished due to stress or excitement, you say नींद उड़ गई (Sleep has flown away). For those who are perpetually sleepy, friends might joke that you are a कुंभकरण (Kumbhkaran), a mythological character who slept for six months at a time.