duerme
/DWEHR-meh/
sleeps
This image shows a subject that 'sleeps' (duerme).
duerme(verb)
sleeps
?He/she/it sleeps
,are sleeping
?You (formal) are sleeping
is asleep
?Describing a state
📝 In Action
Mi gato duerme todo el día.
A1My cat sleeps all day.
¿Usted duerme bien después de cenar?
A2Do you (formal) sleep well after dinner?
Ella duerme en el sofá porque está muy cansada.
A1She is sleeping on the sofa because she is very tired.
💡 Grammar Points
The 'O' to 'UE' Change
The verb 'dormir' is irregular because the 'o' changes to 'ue' when stressed (like in 'duerme'). This happens for almost all forms except 'nosotros' and 'vosotros'.
Preterite Change
In the simple past (preterite), the 'o' changes to 'u' only for the 'él/ella/usted' and 'ellos/ellas/ustedes' forms (e.g., durmió, durmieron).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Forgetting the Stem Change
Mistake: "Él dorme en su cama."
Correction: Él duerme en su cama. Remember to change the 'o' to 'ue' in the present tense.
⭐ Usage Tips
Using 'Duerme' with Reflexive Pronouns
To emphasize falling asleep, Spanish uses 'dormirse'. If you say 'Se duerme', it means 'He/She is falling asleep' or 'He/She goes to sleep'.
When used as an informal command, 'Duerme!' means 'Sleep!'
duerme(verb)
Sleep!
?A direct command to 'tú' (you informal)
Go to sleep!
?Used for urgency
📝 In Action
Ya es tarde, ¡duerme ahora!
A2It's already late, sleep now!
Duerme, mi amor, que mañana hay escuela.
A2Sleep, my love, because tomorrow is a school day.
💡 Grammar Points
Affirmative 'Tú' Command
The informal command form for 'tú' (you) is usually the same as the 'él/ella/usted' present tense form. So, 'duerme' means both 'he/she sleeps' and 'Sleep!'
⭐ Usage Tips
Negative Commands are Different
If you want to say 'Don't sleep!', you must use the subjunctive form: 'No duermas'.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: duerme
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'duerme' as a command?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does 'duerme' have a 'ue' but 'dormimos' keeps the 'o'?
This is a common pattern in Spanish verbs! The 'o' changes to 'ue' only when that part of the word is strongly emphasized when you say it. For 'duerme,' the stress is on 'due-', but for 'dormimos,' the stress is on 'mi-', so the 'o' stays the same.
How do I say 'He slept' using the verb 'dormir'?
You need the simple past tense (preterite) form, which is 'durmió'. Notice the change from 'o' to 'u' in this past tense.