Definition
A literary or archaic term for a nightmare, particularly one attributed to a demon or supernatural creature sitting on the sleeper's chest.
Etymology
From French 'cauchemar' (nightmare), possibly derived from Old French 'cauche' (to press down) and 'mare' (a demon/nightmare). The word reflects medieval European folklore about demons causing night terrors.
Kelly Says
The word 'nightmare' itself comes from 'mare,' an old English word for a demon believed to sit on sleeping people's chests—and different languages had similar words because this was such a universal human experience of sleep paralysis and bad dreams!
Translations
AMአማርኛ
Nightmare
Night-mare
BNবাংলা
রাতের ভয়ঙ্কর স্বপ্ন
ra-ter bhoy-on-kar swap-n
CACatalà
pessebre
peh-seh-breh
CSČeština
noční můra
no-ch-nee moo-ra
DADansk
mareridt
ma-re-ridt
DEDeutsch
Alptraum
alp-traum
ELΕλληνικά
κάναβος
ka-na-vos
ESEspañol
pesadilla
peh-see-dee-ya
FAفارسی
بیمارستان
be-me-ar-sta-n
FISuomi
pahoinpäivi
pa-ho-in-pa-ivi
FRFrançais
cauchemar
ko-sh-mahr
HAHA
nightmare
night-mare
HEעברית
קוֹשְׁמָר
ko-sh-mar
HIहिन्दी
बुरा सपना
boo-ra sa-pna
HUMagyar
rossz álom
ro-sh al-om
IDBahasa Indonesia
mimpi buruk
mim-pi boo-rok
IGIG
nightmare
night-mare
ITItaliano
incubo
in-koo-boh
MSBahasa Melayu
mimpi buruk
mim-pi boo-rok
MYမြန်မာ
ကြောင့် ဘယ် လုပ်
kya-ng-ot bai loht
NLNederlands
nachtmerrie
nacht-mer-ree
NONorsk
mareritt
ma-re-ritt
PLPolski
koszmar
kosh-mar
PTPortuguês
pesadelo
peh-sa-deh-loh
RUРусский
кошмар
kosh-mar
SVSvenska
mardröm
mar-drem
SWKiswahili
ndoto mbaya
n-do-to m-ba-ya
TAதமிழ்
பேய்ப்பித்தல்
pay-pit-tal
TLTL
masamang pangarap
ma-sa-mang pang-a-rap
UKУкраїнська
кошмар
kosh-mar
URاردو
خواب بد
khawab bad
VITiếng Việt
ác mộng
ak mong
YOYO
nightmare
night-mare
ZUZU
umndeni
oom-n-deh-nee