Spanish Word of the Day: Dormir (sleep)

Who doesn’t love to sleep? It’s the ultimate way to unwind, dream, rest, and forget about all our worries. Whether you want to take a quick afternoon nap or a full night’s rest, sleep is something we all cherish, right? In Spanish, the word translates to dormir. It comes from the Latin verb dormire, which means to sleep. 

Dormir is an irregular -ir verb in Spanish. The stem changes in some of the tenses. Instead of keeping the o in the stem, it changes to u or ue. Below are the past, present, and future tenses:

The literal meaning of the word dormir is the act of sleeping. The verb often describes different aspects of sleep, such as the quality, duration, and context. For example, you can talk about sleep routines or the importance of sleep. It can be conjugated in different tenses and moods to discuss sleep. Some example sentences include: 

• Nosotros dormiremos en un hotel la próxima semana. = We will sleep in a hotel next week.
• Dormí profundamente anoche. = I slept deeply last night.

The word dormir can also be used figuratively to express ideas and emotions. For instance, describing someone as dormido (asleep) when they are clearly awake suggests they are not paying attention. This can apply to social issues, problems, or events happening around them, such as being distracted in class or ignoring important societal matters.

Dormir is also used figuratively to suggest a sense of peace following the release of stress or anxiety. For example, after finally receiving a paycheque, a person might feel they can dormir en paz (sleep peacefully), no longer burdened by financial worries after a month of uncertainty. Conversely, it can imply the opposite—a person may be unable to sleep due to stress or negative circumstances surrounding them.

• Mi amigo estaba dormido durante la clase. = My friend was half-asleep/not paying attention during class. 
• No puedo dormir sabiendo que está en el hospital. = I can’t rest /sleep knowing that he’s in the hospital.

Fun Fact:

Synonyms for dormir include reposar (rest), descansar (rest), soñar (to dream), acostar (lay down) and tomar una siesta (to take a nap). Although in English we don’t use them to tell someone we will go to bed or go to sleep, in Spanish all of these may be used figuratively to say you will sleep or take a nap. For example, Estoy cansado. Me voy ir a soñar. (I’m tired. I’m going to dream). This sentence is saying the person will go to sleep.

Dormir is often used with other words to provide context or detail. Below are some of the most common combinations:

• dormir en paz = to sleep in peace
• dormir profundamente = to sleep profoundly
• dormir hasta tarde = to sleep late
• dormir de pie  = to sleep standing
• dormir con tranquilidad = to sleep in peace
• dormir la siesta = to take a nap
• dormir mal = to sleep poorly
• dormir bien = to sleep well
• dormir sin preocupaciones = to without worries
• dormir a ratos = to nap intermittently

Spanish idioms featuring ‘dormir’