There are a few theories as to why sleeping is often depicted as “Z’s”. Here are some quick answers to questions around this common phrase:
When did people start referring to sleep as Z’s?
The origin of using “Z’s” to represent sleep is unclear, but some sources suggest it started in the early 20th century. Comic strips from the 1920s and 1930s sometimes showed “Z’s” coming out of a sleeping character’s mouth to signify that they were asleep.
Why the letter Z?
There are a few possible reasons why the letter Z became associated with sleep:
- The Z shape resembles the closed eyes and open mouth of a sleeping person.
- It’s the first letter of “zizz”, an onomatopoeic word meaning to sleep or snooze.
- “Snooze” starts with S, so Z is the next logical letter to represent sleep.
- The word “zzzzz” vocally signals someone sleeping or snoring.
Does the letter Z have other sleep connotations?
Yes, here are some other sleep-related Z words and phrases:
- Zonk out – to fall asleep suddenly
- Zombie – an undead, sleepwalking figure in folklore
- Zonked – exhausted or asleep
- Z’s – slang for sleep
- ZZZ – onomatopoeia for snoring sounds
When do people commonly use the Z’s symbol?
The Z’s symbol is often used in comics, cartoons, and other visual media to show a character is sleeping. Some common uses include:
- Drawn around a person’s head in a bubble to represent sleep or dreaming.
- Emitted from a character’s nose or mouth when asleep.
- Used in “shhh” signs when someone is napping.
- Drawn on sleep masks and pajamas.
- Used in phrases like “You’re getting some Z’s.”
Does the Z’s symbol have other variations?
Yes, some other ways the Z’s symbol is depicted include:
- Replacing S’s with Z’s in words – “I need to catch some zzz’s tonight.”
- Drawing multiple Z’s – “Zzzzz” to represent snoring or deep sleep.
- Pluralizing the symbol – “I only got 2 Z’s last night.”
- Drawing Z’s of different sizes – large Z’s for loud snoring.
- Animating the Z’s – making them float upwards to signify sleep.
Are there other symbols used to represent sleep?
While Z’s are the most common symbol, some other ways sleep is visually depicted include:
- Crescent moon – representing nighttime.
- Bed icon – a bed, pillow, and blanket.
- Nightcap – an old-fashioned cap worn for sleeping.
- Sheep – counting sheep is associated with sleep.
- Snooze icon – an alarm clock with ZZZ’s.
- Thought bubble – with a sleeping figure indicating dreams.
Conclusion
Although its exact origin is uncertain, the practice of using “Z’s” to represent sleep likely began in the early 1900s. The Z shape visually captures the look of sleeping with eyes closed and mouth open. It also represents the “zizzing” sound of snoozing and invokes other sleep-related Z words. Today, Z’s are commonly used in cartoons and other imagery to show a character is sleeping, dreaming, or snoring.