Dream dictionary & journal

What does your dream mean?

Look up over 500 dream symbols, from teeth falling out to being chased, with the common readings from psychology and folklore side by side.

Browse the A–Z dictionaryHow we interpret dreams

Describe your dream

We'll pick out the symbols we recognise and link you to their full meanings.

Free · no sign-up · stays in your browser

Most searched dreams

See all 564 symbols
Teeth falling outThe most-reported anxiety dream, and what it usually reflects.SnakesThreat, healing or change? It depends on what the snake does.FallingLoss of control, and the hypnic jerk behind it.Being chasedWhat you are running from matters more than who.PregnancyUsually about a new project, not a baby.DeathWhy dying in a dream is rarely a bad sign.FlyingFreedom, or trying to rise above something.An ex-partnerUnfinished lessons, not unfinished love.Water & floodsCalm or rising, water mirrors your emotions.SpidersFear, patience and the webs we build.Being naked in publicThe classic dream of being exposed.A deceased relativeGrief, comfort and dream visits.

Browse by theme

AnimalsSnakes, dogs, spiders, birds81 symbolsPeopleMother, ex, stranger, boss41 symbolsPlacesSchool, house, hospital, forest54 symbolsThings that happenFalling, chased, late, lost93 symbolsFeelingsFear, guilt, joy, dread22 symbolsNature & weatherWater, fire, storms, the moon52 symbolsBody & healthEyes, hands, heart, blood19 symbolsFood & drinkBread, fruit, cake, wine32 symbolsTravel & transportCars, trains, planes, boats24 symbolsObjectsKeys, mirrors, doors, clocks85 symbolsSpirits & fantasyGhosts, angels, dragons, aliens33 symbolsColours & numbersRed, gold, seven, thirteen28 symbols

Dream symbols A–Z

Guides to dreaming

All guides
Why do we dream?What sleep science says, in plain language.Recurring dreams and what they wantWhy the same dream keeps coming back.Lucid dreaming for beginnersSimple, safe techniques to try tonight.How to remember your dreamsSmall habits that make recall easier.Irish dream folkloreWhat dreams were said to mean in Irish tradition.

Keep a private dream journal

Write dreams down the moment you wake, spot the symbols that keep coming back, and download your journal as a PDF. Saved only in your browser.

My dream journal 100% private

Saved only in this browser, on this device, using your browser's own storage — never sent to us or anywhere else. Describe a dream above and choose "Keep this dream" to add it here.

Who writes Dream Cipher

Hi, I'm Greachain

I run Dream Cipher and edit its more than 500 dream meanings, which draw on Freudian, Jungian and folk traditions and note where they disagree. Readers regularly suggest symbols I've missed, and I add them as I go.

Dream Cipher is one of a small family of free sites I run, alongside Star Cipher, Gematria Central, Gods of Ireland and QuickDailyTool. Each one does one job well: no accounts, no paywalls, nothing hidden behind a sign-up.

Dream meanings here are traditional and psychological readings, not predictions or medical advice. If dreams are disturbing your sleep, talk to a doctor.

Read our editorial approach

Frequently asked questions

Is this scientifically accurate?

No — dream interpretation is a traditional, symbolic practice, not a scientifically validated method. There's no verified evidence that specific dream symbols carry fixed universal meanings. This site is intended for entertainment and self-reflection, not as fact or advice.

How does the "describe your dream" tool work?

It scans the text you enter for dream symbols in our dictionary — like teeth, falling, or water — and then uses AI to weave the traditional meanings of the symbols it found into a single reading. If the AI step is unavailable, you'll see the matched symbols' meanings listed instead. It can only recognise symbols that are currently in the dictionary.

Why do interpretations sometimes contradict each other?

Dream interpretation has multiple, often competing traditions — Freudian, Jungian, and folk or pop-culture readings frequently disagree. We try to reflect the range of common interpretations rather than presenting one as definitively correct.

Can a dream predict the future?

There's no scientific evidence supporting dreams as predictions. Traditional interpretation generally reads dreams as processing waking-life emotions and experiences, not as forecasts of what's to come.

Is my Dream Journal stored in a database somewhere?

No. There's no database, no account, and no sign-up — your saved dreams live only in your own browser's local storage on your own device, using a standard web feature, not a server we control. We never see them, never receive them, and can't access them even if we wanted to. Clearing your browser data will also clear your journal, since nothing is backed up anywhere else.

Does the Dream Journal cost anything?

No — it's completely free, with no account, no premium tier, and no charge, now or planned. It runs entirely in your browser using free, standard web storage, so there's no server cost tied to it for you to eventually pay for.

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Check out my other free tools

quickdailytool.comFree everyday calculators Gematria CentralGematria & numerology tools Star CipherFree Daily Horoscope & Tarot Readings Gods of IrelandIrish mythology reference