Pronunciation: [nˈa͡ɪtme͡ə] (IPA) 
The word "nightmare" is spelled with a silent "g" at the beginning, even though it is not pronounced. This is because the word has a Germanic origin, and in German words starting with "n" followed by a vowel, the "n" is often pronounced as "ng". Therefore, the "g" in "nightmare" is a leftover from the Germanic spelling. The phonetic transcription of "nightmare" is /ˈnaɪtmer/.
A nightmare is a distressing or terrifying dream that causes intense fear, anxiety, or panic upon awakening. It is characterized by its vivid, disturbing, and often bizarre nature. Nightmares typically occur during the REM (rapid eye movement) stage of sleep, which is when the brain is highly active and dreams are most vivid. These dreams can feel exceptionally real, evoking strong emotions and a sense of impending doom or danger. Nightmare content varies widely among individuals and can include themes like threatening situations, personal failures, supernatural entities, or physical harm.
Nightmares are often associated with sleep disorders such as insomnia or night terrors and can occur sporadically or as recurring episodes. They can disrupt regular sleep patterns, leading to insomnia or disturbed sleep quality. Factors contributing to the occurrence of nightmares include stress, trauma, anxiety disorders, or certain medications. Children and adolescents are particularly susceptible to experiencing nightmares due to their imaginative minds and growing cognitive abilities.
While nightmares can be distressing, they are generally harmless and do not signify any underlying mental or physical illness. However, recurring or severe nightmares may impact an individual's well-being and overall quality of life, potentially leading to chronic sleep deprivation and heightened anxiety. Techniques such as relaxation exercises, maintaining a calming sleep environment, and engaging in stress-reducing activities before sleep can help reduce the occurrence of nightmares. In more severe cases, therapy or medication may be recommended to address any underlying issues contributing to the nightmares.
A terrifying dream in which one is unable to cry for help or to escape from a seemingly impending evil.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
A disagreeable sensation in sleep of pressure on the breast, and phantom-seeing; an incubus; a certain overwhelming or stupefying influence.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "nightmare" can be traced back to the Old English word "nyhtmaere", which is a combination of "nyht" (night) and "maere" (an evil spirit or goblin). The word "nyhtmaere" originally referred to a supernatural creature or spirit that was believed to cause bad dreams or suffocate people in their sleep. Over time, the meaning of the word evolved to specifically denote the bad dreams themselves.
