acostarse
/ah-kohs-TAHR-seh/
to go to bed
Acostarse means 'to go to bed' as a daily routine.
acostarse(verb)
to go to bed
?as a daily routine
,to turn in
?informal
to hit the hay
?very informal
📝 In Action
Siempre me acuesto a las diez de la noche.
A1I always go to bed at ten o'clock at night.
¿A qué hora te acostaste anoche?
A1What time did you go to bed last night?
El bebé se acuesta después de beber su leche.
A2The baby goes to bed after drinking his milk.
💡 Grammar Points
The 'O' to 'UE' Change
In the present tense, the 'o' in the middle of the verb changes to 'ue' (acuesto, acuestas), except for the 'nosotros' and 'vosotros' forms.
Reflexive Action
Since this is a reflexive verb, you must use the pronoun (me, te, se, nos, os) because the person doing the action is also the one receiving the action (you are putting yourself to bed).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Forgetting the Reflexive Pronoun
Mistake: "Yo acuesto a las once."
Correction: Yo me acuesto a las once. (If you omit 'me,' you are saying 'I put someone else to bed.')
⭐ Usage Tips
Acostarse vs. Dormir
Use 'acostarse' for the action of getting into bed. Use 'dormir' (or 'dormirse') for the action of being asleep or falling asleep.
Acostarse can also mean 'to lie down' to rest on a surface.
acostarse(verb)
to lie down
?to rest on a surface
to stretch out
?on a couch or floor
📝 In Action
Me acosté un rato en el sofá porque me dolía la cabeza.
A2I lay down for a while on the sofa because my head hurt.
El perro se acuesta en la alfombra cuando tiene calor.
B1The dog lies down on the rug when it is hot.
Acuéstese aquí, doctor. Necesito examinarle la espalda.
B1Lie down here, doctor. I need to examine your back.
💡 Grammar Points
Using the Command Form
When giving an order to lie down (like a doctor or physical therapist), the reflexive pronoun attaches to the end of the verb: 'Acuéstate' (Lie down).
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: acostarse
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'acostarse' in the present tense?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'acostarse' the same as 'dormir'?
No. 'Acostarse' means the action of moving from standing/sitting to lying down in bed (going to bed). 'Dormir' means the state of being asleep (to sleep). You 'acostarse' before you 'duermes'.
Why does the 'o' change to 'ue' in some forms?
This is simply how many common Spanish verbs work, especially when the stress falls on the syllable with the 'o' (like *acUÉsto*). Think of it as a pattern you need to memorize, similar to how 'eat' becomes 'ate' in English.