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A storybook illustration showing a child sleeping soundly in a bed under a blanket in a simple bedroom.

dormía

dor-MEE-ah

Verb (Past Tense Form)A1stem-changing (o>ue) in present, but regular in imperfect ir
I was sleeping?Continuous action in the past (yo form),He/She was sleeping?Continuous action in the past (él/ella form),I used to sleep?Habitual action in the past (yo form)
Also:You were sleeping (formal)?Continuous action in the past (usted form)

Quick Reference

past Participledormido (slept)
infinitivedormir (to sleep)
gerunddurmiendo (sleeping)

📝 In Action

Cuando me llamaste, yo dormía profundamente.

A1

When you called me, I was sleeping soundly.

Ella dormía ocho horas cada noche en esa época.

A2

She used to sleep eight hours every night during that time.

El bebé dormía en su cuna mientras nosotros cenábamos.

A1

The baby was sleeping in his crib while we were having dinner.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

  • despertar (to wake up)
  • estar despierto (to be awake)

Common Collocations

  • dormía profundamente – was sleeping deeply
  • dormía a pierna suelta – was sleeping like a log

Idioms & Expressions

  • irse a dormir – to go to bed

💡 Grammar Points

Function of 'Dormía'

'Dormía' is the imperfect tense, which describes actions that were ongoing or repeated in the past, or sets the scene for a sudden event. Think of it as 'was sleeping' or 'used to sleep'.

Who is Doing the Action?

In Spanish, 'dormía' can mean 'I was sleeping' (yo), 'he/she was sleeping' (él/ella), or 'you were sleeping' (usted, formal). Context usually tells you who the subject is.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Imperfect vs. Preterite

Mistake: "Using 'dormí' when you mean 'dormía'."

Correction: Use 'dormí' (preterite) only for a completed action ('I slept for eight hours'). Use 'dormía' (imperfect) for background or continuous action ('I was sleeping when the phone rang').

⭐ Usage Tips

Setting the Scene

Use 'dormía' and other imperfect verbs to describe the weather, feelings, or what people were doing in the background when something important happened.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: dormía

Question 1 of 2

Which English phrase best captures the meaning of 'Ella dormía en el sofá cada tarde'?

📚 More Resources

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if 'dormía' means 'I' or 'He/She'?

You usually figure this out from the surrounding context or if a pronoun (yo, él, ella) is used. If the subject isn't clear, Spanish speakers often include the pronoun: 'Yo dormía' (I was sleeping) vs. 'Ella dormía' (She was sleeping).

Why does 'dormir' change its stem in the present tense (duermo) but not in 'dormía'?

The 'o' to 'ue' change only happens in specific tenses, like the present (duermo). The imperfect tense ('dormía') is very reliable and almost never uses stem changes, making it one of the easiest past tenses to conjugate.