寝る ｖｓ 眠る

[kellysensei]

I don't really understand the difference between 寝るand　眠る. I know they both mean "to sleep," yet they don't always seem interchangeable. Can someone help me understand how use each one? Thanks!

[mutley]

My dictionary says that they mean generally the same thing and can usually be used interchangeably, I certainly haven't noticed a huge difference in their meanings.
Apparently the origin of 寝る also gives it a nuance of 'lying down' which 眠る doesn't have.

Beyond the simple meaning of sleeping it seems they both have usages to imply that something is not being used to it's full ability/value
e.g. 大金が寝ている　or 倉庫に寝ている道具

眠る can apparently also be used for to imply being dead/ in one's final resting place
e.g. 父母の眠る墓地

[Javizy]

When they mean 'to sleep' they're interchangeable, but you can use 寝る to mean 'go to bed', 'lie down', and 'sleep with (someone)' too.

寝るよ！
I'm going to bed.
ベッドに寝て本を読む。
Read a book while laying in bed.
私は上司とは寝ていません。
I never slept with the boss.