Dormir means "to sleep" and is an essential verb for discussing rest and daily routines in Spanish.
- Verb: Dormir
- Meaning: to sleep
- Infinitive: dormir
- Category: -ir verb (stem-changing)
- Stem change: o → ue (present tense)
'Dormir' means 'to sleep'.
Conjugation Highlights
Present (Presente)
Sleep is ..., I sleep, you sleep, etc.
- Stem change: o → ue (except nosotros/as, vosotros/as)
- Conjugation:
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | duermo |
| tú | duermes |
| él/ella/Ud. | duerme |
| nosotros/as | dormimos |
| vosotros/as | dormís |
| ellos/as/Uds. | duermen |
Preterite (Pretérito)
You slept, we slept... (regular -ir pattern, no stem change for dormir)
- Conjugation: dormí, dormiste, durmió, dormimos, dormisteis, durmieron
- Note: Dormir has a stem change (o → u) in the 3rd person for extra rest!
Imperfect (Imperfecto)
Used to sleep, were sleeping...
- Conjugation: dormía, dormías, dormía, dormíamos, dormíais, dormían
Subjunctive Present
...that I sleep, you sleep... (stem change applies)
- Conjugation: duerma, duermas, duerma, durmamos, durmáis, duerman
Dormir changes from 'o' to 'ue' in the present tense stem.
Full Conjugation Chart
| Tense | yo | tú | él/ella/Ud | nosotros | vosotros | ellos/ellas/Uds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Present | duermo | duermes | duerme | dormimos | dormís | duermen |
| Preterite | dormí | dormiste | durmió | dormimos | dormisteis | durmieron |
| Imperfect | dormía | dormías | dormía | dormíamos | dormíais | dormían |
| Subjunctive | duerma | duermas | duerma | durmamos | duermáis | duerman |
'We sleep' is dormimos, and 'they sleep' is duermen.
Usage and Examples
| Situation | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| Normal statement | Yo duermo ocho horas. | I sleep eight hours. |
| Routine | Dormimos temprano. | We sleep early. |
| Yesterday | Ella durmió bien. | She slept well. |
| Want Sth - Subjunctive | Espero que duermas bien. | I hope you sleep well. |
'She slept well' (past) is 'Ella durmió bien.'
Dormir in Context: Daily Life
- Discuss bedtime routines: ¿A qué hora duermes? (When do you sleep?)
- Talk about vacations: Durante las vacaciones, dormimos más. (During vacations, we sleep more.)
- Express wishes: Ojalá pudiera dormir más. (I wish I could sleep more.)
A typical question is '¿A qué hora duermes?'
Conclusion
Dormir is a vital verb for talking about rest and routines in Spanish.
- It’s a stem-changing -ir verb: o → ue in the present/subjunctive for most forms.
- Key to expressing daily habits (present), memories (preterite/imperfect), and wishes (subjunctive).
Use dormir to bring comfort and rhythm into your Spanish conversations!