dormir
/dor-MEER/
to sleep
The primary meaning of dormir is 'to sleep' (Duermo ocho horas — I sleep eight hours).
dormir(Verb)
to sleep
?The general act of sleeping.
to be asleep
?Describing the state of being asleep.
,to fall asleep
?When used with 'se' (dormirse), it focuses on the action of falling asleep.
📝 In Action
Necesito dormir ocho horas esta noche.
A1I need to sleep eight hours tonight.
El bebé duerme tranquilamente en su cuna.
A2The baby sleeps peacefully in his crib.
Anoche me dormí viendo una película.
B1Last night I fell asleep watching a movie.
💡 Grammar Points
The Shape-Shifting Vowel (o → ue)
In the present tense, the 'o' in 'dormir' changes to 'ue' for most forms (yo, tú, él, ellos). Think of it as the verb waking up and stretching! For example, 'yo dormo' becomes 'yo duermo'. But 'nosotros' and 'vosotros' stay 'asleep' with the regular 'o': 'nosotros dormimos'.
The Other Shape-Shift (o → u)
In some other forms, like the 'él/ellos' past tense ('durmió', 'durmieron') and the present subjunctive 'nosotros/vosotros' ('durmamos'), the 'o' changes to a 'u'. This is a common pattern for verbs like 'dormir' and 'morir'.
Dormir vs. Dormirse
'Dormir' is the general act of sleeping. Adding 'se' ('dormirse') shifts the focus to the moment you fall asleep. 'Duermo bien' (I sleep well). 'Me duermo a las diez' (I fall asleep at ten).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Forgetting the Stem Change
Mistake: "Yo dormo muy bien."
Correction: Yo duermo muy bien. Remember that in the present tense, the 'o' often changes to 'ue'!
Past Tense Mix-up
Mistake: "Él dormió ocho horas."
Correction: Él durmió ocho horas. In the past tense for 'él' and 'ellos', the 'o' changes to a 'u'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Wishing Someone a Good Night
A very common and friendly thing to say is 'Que duermas bien', which means 'Sleep well'. It's a kind way to say goodnight.
A secondary meaning of dormir is used when a body part 'falls asleep' or 'is numb' (Se me durmió la pierna — My leg fell asleep).
dormir(Verb)
to be numb
?For a body part
to fall asleep
?Used figuratively for a limb, like 'my foot fell asleep'
📝 In Action
Después de sentarme mucho tiempo, se me durmió la pierna.
B1After sitting for a long time, my leg fell asleep.
No siento los dedos, los tengo dormidos por el frío.
B2I can't feel my fingers, they're numb from the cold.
⭐ Usage Tips
It Happens 'To Me'
This meaning is almost always used with 'se' and another little word like 'me', 'te', or 'le'. The structure is 'Se me durmió el pie' (My foot fell asleep), which literally means 'The foot fell asleep on me'. This shows it's something that happened to you, not something you did on purpose.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
preterite
imperfect
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: dormir
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence correctly says 'My arm fell asleep'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between 'dormir' and 'dormirse'?
Think of it this way: 'dormir' is the general activity of sleeping, like in 'I like to sleep'. 'Dormirse' is about the specific moment you *fall* asleep. You could say 'Anoche no pude dormirme' (Last night I couldn't fall asleep), but 'Dormí muy mal' (I slept very badly).
Why does 'dormir' change its spelling so much when I conjugate it?
'Dormir' is a 'stem-changing' verb, which is like a verb with a secret identity! In some forms, the 'o' changes to 'ue' (like 'duermo') and in others, it changes to 'u' (like 'durmió'). It's a pattern you'll see in other important verbs too. Once you get the hang of it, you'll start to recognize it everywhere!