Etymology

From Proto-Germanic *swefnaz, from Proto-Indo-European *swepno-, an extension of *swep- ‎(“sleep”). Cognate with Old Saxon sweƀan, Old Norse svefn (Icelandic svefn, Norwegian svevn, Swedish sömn); the Proto-Indo-European root also led to Ancient Greek ὕπνος ‎(húpnos), Latin somnus, Old Irish suan, Old Church Slavonic сънъ ‎(sŭnŭ), Russian сон ‎(son), Latvian sapnis.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /swevn/