The Spanish verb for 'sleeping' is dormir.
Understanding the Verb "Dormir"
Dormir is a fundamental and frequently used verb in Spanish, directly translating to 'to sleep' in English. It is an -ir verb and belongs to a category of verbs known as stem-changing verbs (specifically, 'o' to 'ue' in the present tense for most forms, except nosotros and vosotros). Understanding its conjugation is essential for expressing actions related to sleeping in various tenses.
Here's a look at some key conjugations of dormir, including its preterite, imperfect, and past participle forms:
| Pronoun | Present Indicative | Preterite Indicative | Imperfect Indicative | Past Participle |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yo | duermo | dormí | dormía | dormido |
| Tú | duermes | dormiste | dormías | dormido |
| Él/Ella/Usted | duerme | durmió | dormía | dormido |
| Nosotros | dormimos | dormimos | dormíamos | dormido |
| Vosotros | dormís | dormisteis | dormíais | dormido |
| Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes | duermen | durmieron | dormían | dormido |
Note: The past participle of dormir is dormido, which is used in compound tenses (e.g., he dormido - I have slept) and can also function as an adjective (e.g., Estoy dormido - I am asleep).
Practical Usage of "Dormir"
Using dormir in sentences is straightforward once you are familiar with its conjugations. Here are some common examples:
- Present Tense: Ella duerme ocho horas cada noche. (She sleeps eight hours every night.)
- Preterite Tense: Ayer, dormí muy bien después de un largo día. (Yesterday, I slept very well after a long day.)
- Imperfect Tense: Cuando era niño, siempre dormía siestas por la tarde. (When I was a child, I always used to sleep naps in the afternoon.)
- Future Tense: Mañana dormiremos hasta tarde si no tenemos planes. (Tomorrow we will sleep late if we don't have plans.)
- Imperative Mood (Command): ¡Duerme bien, necesitas descansar! (Sleep well, you need to rest!)
Understanding dormir allows you to communicate effectively about sleep-related actions and states in Spanish. For more comprehensive conjugation tables and usage examples, you can consult reputable Spanish grammar resources.
