In Spanish, the verbs dormir and dormirse express related but distinct concepts: to sleep and to fall asleep. Dormir is used for the act of sleeping, while dormirse, the reflexive form, emphasizes the transition into sleep. Mastering both forms reveals how Spanish captures nuances of daily life through verb forms.
- Dormir = to sleep (regular activity)
- Dormirse = to fall asleep (change of state, reflexive)
Dormir: The Core Meaning
Dormir is a stem-changing verb (o → ue) used for the simple act of sleeping. It conveys when someone is or sleeps—not the act of becoming asleep.
- Infinitive: dormir
- Meaning: to sleep
- Stem change: o → ue (present, subjunctive, imperative)
- Usage: Describing sleep as a state or routine
Examples:
- Ellos duermen ocho horas.
They sleep eight hours.
→ Regular sleeping, a state or habit.
- ¿A qué hora duermes?
When do you sleep?
→ Refers to the routine/time for sleeping.
- Salimos a dormir después de la película.
We went to sleep after the movie.
→ Sleeping as a state, not process of falling asleep.
'Dormir' is used when referring to the state or act of sleeping, including routines and durations.
'Dormir' is correct for statements about sleeping; use 'dormirse' for falling asleep.
Dormirse: The Reflexive Shift
Dormirse is the reflexive form, meaning "to fall asleep." It focuses on the moment of transition—when one becomes asleep, not just the sleep itself.
- Infinitive: dormirse
- Meaning: to fall asleep
- Reflexive: requires pronouns (me, te, se, nos, os, se)
- Usage: Emphasizing the change of state (wake → sleep)
Examples:
- Me duermo temprano.
I fall asleep early.
→ Focus is on the moment you stop being awake.
- ¿Cuándo se duermen los niños?
When do the kids fall asleep?
→ Not just sleep; they transition to sleep.
- Después de estudiar, él se duerme en clase.
After studying, he falls asleep in class.
→ He transitions from awake to asleep.
'Dormirse' is used for the moment someone falls asleep, highlighting the transition.
'Dormirse' is correct when you talk about falling asleep, not just sleeping.
Summary:
| Aspect | Dormir | Dormirse |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Meaning | To sleep | To fall asleep |
| Focus | Sleep as a state/routine | Transition into sleep |
| Form | Regular verb with stem change | Reflexive form (me, te, se...) |
| When to Use | For sleeping/ rest | When someone falls asleep |