French · Body & Health
"I can't sleep" in French: je n'arrive pas à dormir
je n'arrive pas à dormir
I can't sleep in French is je n'arrive pas à dormir — literally I can't manage to sleep. Use it for insomnia or jet lag. Je n'arrive plus à dormir marks an ongoing problem.
3 a.m. text
Toujours réveillé — je n'arrive pas à dormir.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce je n'arrive pas à dormir
Say it
zhuh nah-REEV pah ah dor-MEER
/ʒə n‿a.ʁiv pa a dɔʁ.miʁ/
Je n'arrive pas: zhuh nah-REEV pah. À dormir: ah dor-MEER.
"I can't sleep" in French: quick reference
| French | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| je n'arrive pas à dormir | I can't sleep Default. | Default. |
| je n'arrive plus à dormir | I can't sleep anymore Ongoing. | Ongoing. |
| je n'ai pas dormi | I didn't sleep Past night. | Past night. |
| j'ai du mal à dormir | I have trouble sleeping Softer. | Softer. |
How to use je n'arrive pas à dormir in real life
- 13 a.m. text
Toujours réveillé — je n'arrive pas à dormir.
Still awake—I can't sleep.
Full phrase.
- 2Before a trip
Trop stressé, je n'arrive pas à dormir.
Too stressed, I can't sleep.
Cause.
- 3Hotel noise
Avec la fête en bas, je n'arrive pas à dormir.
With the party downstairs, I can't sleep.
Noise.
Mistakes English speakers make with je n'arrive pas à dormir
Incorrect: Je ne peux pas sleep.
Correct: Je n'arrive pas à dormir.
Use the French phrase with dormir.
Incorrect: Je n'arrive pas dormir.
Correct: Je n'arrive pas à dormir.
Keep à before dormir.
Good to know
French speakers complain about sleep with je n'arrive pas à dormir more than medical labels. Pharmacies sell mild aids; chronic issues go to a doctor. Night trains and neighbors are classic excuses.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Insomnia chat with a roommate
ChatPal
Tu es encore debout ?
You're still up?
You
Oui — je n'arrive pas à dormir.
Yes—I can't sleep.
ChatPal
Moi aussi parfois je n'arrive pas à dormir quand il fait chaud.
Sometimes I can't sleep either when it's hot.
You
On ouvre la fenêtre ?
Shall we open the window?
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"I can't sleep" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "I can't sleep" in French
How do you say I can't sleep in French?
Je n'arrive pas à dormir.
Ongoing problem?
Je n'arrive plus à dormir.
Softer version?
J'ai du mal à dormir.
How do you pronounce dormir?
dor-MEER.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
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