Overview
Dormir is an important irregular verb in French meaning to sleep. It is commonly used in daily conversation to talk about sleeping or resting. Since it is irregular, its conjugation does not follow the typical -ir verb endings and requires special attention.
Conjugation in Present Tense
The present tense conjugation of dormir is irregular and varies by subject pronoun. It is important to memorize the forms to use them correctly in speech or writing.
| French Pronoun | French Conjugation | English Conjugation | French Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| je | dors | I sleep / am sleeping | Je dors tôt ce soir. | I am sleeping early tonight. |
| tu | dors | you sleep | Tu dors trop tard. | You sleep too late. |
| il/elle/on | dort | he/she/one sleeps | Il dort bien après le travail. | He sleeps well after work. |
| nous | dormons | we sleep | Nous dormons huit heures. | We sleep eight hours. |
| vous | dormez | you sleep (formal/plural) | Vous dormez assez souvent. | You sleep quite often. |
| ils/elles | dorment | they sleep | Elles dorment profondement. | They sleep deeply. |
Usage and Examples
Dormir can be used in many contexts related to sleep, rest, or even metaphorically to imply inactivity. For example, dormir sur ses deux oreilles means to sleep soundly without worry.
Related Expressions
- Dormir comme une pierre — to sleep like a log (deeply)
- Faire dormir quelqu'un — to put someone to sleep
- Dormir sur le pouce — to sleep briefly or lightly
Understanding dormir and its conjugations helps in expressing daily activities related to rest and sleep in French effectively.
