dormido
/dor-MEE-doh/
asleep
"Dormido" as an adjective means 'asleep', describing someone in a state of rest.
dormido(Adjective)
asleep
?in a state of sleep
,sleeping
?currently in the act of sleeping
numb
?referring to a limb that has 'fallen asleep'
,dormant
?figurative, e.g., a volcano or skill
📝 In Action
Mi hermano pequeño está dormido en el sofá.
A1My little brother is asleep on the sofa.
¡No me hables, tengo la mano dormida!
A2Don't talk to me, my hand is numb (asleep)!
El volcán Popocatépetl se considera un volcán dormido.
B1The Popocatépetl volcano is considered a dormant volcano.
💡 Grammar Points
Adjective Agreement
As an adjective, 'dormido' must match the person or thing it describes: 'dormida' (feminine singular), 'dormidos' (masculine plural), 'dormidas' (feminine plural).
Using ESTAR
When talking about someone being asleep right now, use the verb 'estar' (to be in a temporary state), not 'ser' (to be permanent). Example: 'Él está dormido.'
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using SER instead of ESTAR
Mistake: "El niño es dormido."
Correction: El niño está dormido. You must use 'estar' because being asleep is a temporary state or condition, not a permanent characteristic.
⭐ Usage Tips
Numbness Shortcut
To say a limb is numb, Spanish often uses the simple structure 'tener' (to have) + the limb + 'dormido(a)'. Example: 'Tengo el brazo dormido.'
As a past participle, "dormido" translates to 'slept', used to form perfect tenses like "he has slept."
dormido(Past Participle)
slept
?when forming perfect tenses with 'haber'
📝 In Action
Hoy no he dormido nada porque tuve que estudiar.
B1Today I haven't slept at all because I had to study.
Ella había dormido en el coche durante el viaje largo.
B2She had slept in the car during the long trip.
💡 Grammar Points
Creating Compound Tenses
The past participle 'dormido' is combined with a form of the helping verb 'haber' to create perfect tenses, which describe actions completed before another point in time. It always stays as 'dormido' in these tenses, never changing to match gender or number.
Participle Invariance
Unlike its use as an adjective, when 'dormido' is used with 'haber' (e.g., 'he dormido'), the ending always stays '-o'. It never changes to '-a' or '-os' even if the subject is plural or feminine.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Forgetting HABER
Mistake: "Yo dormido en mi casa."
Correction: Yo he dormido en mi casa. In Spanish, you always need the verb 'haber' (to have/auxiliary) before the past participle to form compound tenses.
⭐ Usage Tips
Recognizing the Root
'Dormido' is the standard past participle form for all -ir verbs whose infinitive means 'to sleep.' The stem change (o > u) only affects the gerund ('durmiendo') and certain forms of the indicative/subjunctive, but not the participle itself.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: dormido
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'dormido' as an adjective?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'dormido' the same as 'durmiendo'?
No. 'Dormido' is the past participle (the '-ed' form, meaning 'slept' or 'asleep'), while 'durmiendo' is the gerund (the '-ing' form, meaning 'sleeping' or 'currently sleeping'). They are used in different types of continuous and compound tenses.
Why does 'dormido' mean 'numb' sometimes?
This is a common figurative extension in Spanish. When a limb 'falls asleep' in English (like your leg tingling), Spanish describes it as being 'dormida/dormido' (asleep). This refers to the temporary loss of feeling.