Basic Meanings
The French verb dormir means "to sleep," referring to the state of being asleep. In contrast, s’endormir is a reflexive verb meaning "to fall asleep," focusing on the action of starting the sleep process rather than the duration of sleep itself.
Usage Differences
Use dormir when describing actual sleep: "Je dors huit heures" means "I sleep eight hours." Use s’endormir when you want to express the moment someone begins to sleep: "Je m’endors rapidement" means "I fall asleep quickly."
Verb Conjugation
Both verbs follow the pattern of regular -ir verbs but remember that s’endormir is reflexive, so it requires reflexive pronouns before the verb form: je me, tu te, il/elle se, etc. For example: "Il s’endort" ("He is falling asleep").
Common Expressions
Expressions with dormir include "dormir comme un bébé" (to sleep like a baby) and with s’endormir, you might say "s’endormir devant la télé" (to fall asleep in front of the TV). These highlight typical contexts in which each verb is used.
Summary Table
| Verb | Meaning | Reflexive Pronoun | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| dormir | to sleep | none | Je dors huit heures. |
| s’endormir | to fall asleep | me, te, se, etc. | Je m’endors rapidement le soir. |
