Phrase guide

count sheep

verb · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

verb

Meaning 1

To attempt to go to sleep by thinking of something boring, traditionally by counting imaginary sheep.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

See count and sheep. Stories of counting sheep to sleep extend back to at least as early as 12th-century Spain and 13th-century Italy from prior Arab stories.

Across languages

Translations

7 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 數羊 /数羊 (shǔyáng) — to attempt to go to sleep by thinking of something boring
  • Finnish: laskea lampaita — to attempt to go to sleep by thinking of something boring
  • French: compter les moutons — to attempt to go to sleep by thinking of something boring
  • German: Schäfchen zählen — to attempt to go to sleep by thinking of something boring
  • Macedonian: бро́и о́вци (brói óvci) — to attempt to go to sleep by thinking of something boring
  • Polish: liczyć barany — to attempt to go to sleep by thinking of something boring
  • Polish: liczyć owce — to attempt to go to sleep by thinking of something boring