You’ve probably heard of someone mumbling in their sleep, but what if those late-night words come out in another language? Can people really sleep talk in a language they don’t know, or is it just a myth?
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This question pops up often in online forums and search engines, and it’s one researchers have studied, too. Let’s look at what science actually says.
Sleep talking, known medically as somniloquy, is when a person speaks aloud during sleep without being aware of it. It can be a single word, a full sentence, or even an entire conversation.
The short answer: yes, but with limits.
Bilingual or multilingual people sometimes sleep talk in their non-dominant language, especially if they’ve used it recently. A well-documented study of bilingual children found that they could switch between languages during sleep talking, depending on which language was stronger in their daily life.
However, there’s no scientific evidence that someone can suddenly speak a completely unknown language fluently while asleep. Claims of “xenoglossy,” or speaking an unlearned language, remain unproven.
During sleep, the brain processes and stores new information. If you’ve been exposed to another language, even briefly, fragments of it might resurface in sleep talk.
Sometimes people recall forgotten information without realizing it. A person may have been exposed to a language years ago and reproduce snippets of it unknowingly.
Bilingual individuals often dream in both languages. If they speak in their sleep during such a dream, it may naturally come out in whichever language they’re dreaming in.
Stories about people speaking perfect foreign languages in their sleep often sound dramatic, but they rarely hold up to linguistic analysis. Most experts attribute them to exaggeration, misinterpretation, or prior exposure.
If you’re bilingual: Don’t be surprised if you sleep talk in your second language, especially after using it that day.
If you live with someone who sleep talks: Most cases are harmless. But if episodes are frequent, loud, or disruptive, it might be worth consulting a sleep specialist.
For parents: Children often sleep talk more than adults, and it usually decreases with age.
Can you learn a language through sleep talking?
No. Sleep talking reflects what you already know, it won’t teach you a new language.
Is sleep talking harmful?
Not usually. It’s generally harmless unless it disrupts sleep quality or points to another disorder.
Why do kids sleep talk more often?
Children’s sleep cycles are more active, and their developing brains process more information during sleep.
Yes, people can sleep talk in another language, but only if they’ve been exposed to it before. Sleep talking is most often a reflection of the brain replaying memories, processing languages, or expressing dream content. What science doesn’t support is the idea of suddenly becoming fluent in a language you’ve never learned. That remains firmly in the realm of myth.
Whether you’re sleep-talking in Spanish or dreaming in French, one thing’s certain: everyone needs a good night’s rest. Download Land of Sleep’s Guide to a Better Night’s Sleep to create the perfect environment to drift off into dreamland.
Contact us today to take the first step toward healthier sleep.