Dormir vs. S’endormir: to sleep, to fall asleep
The difference between dormir and s’endormir is about timing and perspective: dormir describes the state of being asleep, while s’endormir describes the process of falling asleep. The pronoun se in s’endormir makes it a reflexive verb, indicating that the subject is performing the action on themselves.
Here’s a brief overview:
| Verb | Meaning | Description |
|---|---|---|
| dormir | to sleep | Describes being asleep. |
| s’endormir | to fall asleep | Describes the process of going to sleep. |
Both verbs are irregular and conjugated differently in various tenses.
Usage: Dormir
Dormir is used when talking about the act of sleeping or the state of being asleep.
- Je dors huit heures par nuit. (I sleep eight hours a night.)
- Il dort déjà. (He is already sleeping.)
- Nous avons bien dormi. (We slept well.)
Use dormir for:
- Stating how long someone sleeps
- Describing someone who is asleep
- Talking about sleeping habits or quality of sleep
Usage: S’endormir
S’endormir is used to describe the moment someone falls asleep—the transition from wakefulness to sleep.
- Je m’endors toujours devant la télé. (I always fall asleep in front of the TV.)
- Elle s’est endormie rapidement. (She fell asleep quickly.)
- Nous nous sommes endormis tard hier soir. (We fell asleep late last night.)
Use s’endormir for:
- Describing how or when someone falls asleep
- Talking about difficulty falling asleep
- Narrating the process of going to sleep
Example Sentences
| Dormir Example | S’endormir Example |
|---|---|
| Je dors dès que je suis fatigué. (I sleep as soon as I’m tired.) | Je m’endors dès que je suis fatigué. (I fall asleep as soon as I’m tired.) |
| Il dort profondément. (He sleeps deeply.) | Il s’endort difficilement. (He has trouble falling asleep.) |
| Nous dormons huit heures. (We sleep eight hours.) | Nous nous sommes endormis tôt. (We fell asleep early.) |
Reflexive Pronoun
The se in s’endormir is a reflexive pronoun that changes according to the subject. It indicates that the action is performed by the subject on themselves.
Here are the present-tense forms of s’endormir:
| Subject | French (s’endormir) | EnglishMeaning |
|---|---|---|
| Je | je m’endors | I fall asleep |
| Tu | tu t’endors | You fall asleep |
| Il/Elle | il/elle s’endort | He/She falls asleep |
| Nous | nous nous endormons | We fall asleep |
| Vous | vous vous endormez | You fall asleep |
| Ils/Elles | ils/elles s’endorment | They fall asleep |
Remember to use the correct reflexive pronoun (me, te, se, nous, vous, se) based on the subject.
Idiomatic Expressions
Both verbs appear in common French expressions:
- Dormir sur ses deux oreilles — to sleep peacefully (literally: sleep on both ears)
- S’endormir comme une masse — to fall asleep like a log
For example:
- Tu peux dormir sur tes deux oreilles : tout est prêt. (You can sleep peacefully: everything is ready.)
- Après la randonnée, je me suis endormi comme une masse. (After the hike, I fell asleep like a log.)
Summary
| Aspect | Dormir | S’endormir |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | to sleep | to fall asleep |
| Verb Type | simple verb | reflexive verb |
| Usage | being asleep | process of going to sleep |
| Example | Je dors. (I sleep.) | Je m’endors. (I fall asleep.) |
Use dormir to talk about sleep itself, and s’endormir to talk about the moments when someone is drifting off.
What is the correct reflexive pronoun for ‘nous’ in s’endormir?
nous
In reflexive verbs, the pronoun matches the subject. For ‘nous,’ the reflexive pronoun is ‘nous.’ So, it is ‘nous nous endormons.’
What auxiliary verb do you use with s’endormir in passé composé?
être
Reflexive verbs like s’endormir always use ‘être’ as the auxiliary in passé composé.
Flashcards (1 of 6)
- Subject: Je
- EnglishMeaning: I fall asleep
Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025
