How to Say “Sleep” in Spanish: A Comprehensive Guide

Understanding how to express the concept of “sleep” in Spanish is crucial for effective communication, whether you’re discussing your daily routine, describing a dream, or talking about someone’s sleeping habits. This article provides a detailed exploration of the various ways to say “sleep” in Spanish, covering different verb forms, related vocabulary, common expressions, and potential pitfalls.

Whether you’re a beginner or an advanced learner, this guide will equip you with the knowledge and practice you need to confidently discuss sleep in Spanish. Mastering these nuances will allow you to engage in more natural and nuanced conversations.

This guide is designed for anyone studying Spanish, from beginners just learning basic vocabulary to advanced speakers aiming for fluency. It will be particularly useful for travelers, students, and anyone who interacts with Spanish speakers regularly.

By the end of this article, you’ll have a solid understanding of how to use “sleep” in Spanish in a variety of contexts, enhancing your overall language proficiency and confidence.

Let’s dive in!

Table of Contents

• Definition of “Sleep” in Spanish
• Structural Breakdown: Spanish Verbs for “Sleep”
• Types and Categories of “Sleep” Vocabulary
• Examples of “Sleep” in Spanish
• Usage Rules for “Dormir” and Related Verbs
• Common Mistakes When Talking About Sleep
• Practice Exercises
• Advanced Topics: Idiomatic Expressions and Nuances
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Conclusion

Definition of “Sleep” in Spanish

The most common way to say “sleep” in Spanish is through the verb dormir. This verb encompasses the general action of sleeping, similar to the English verb “to sleep.” However, like many verbs, dormir can be conjugated in various tenses and moods to express different nuances and contexts.

Beyond the verb dormir, there are also nouns and other related verbs that describe different aspects of sleep. For instance, the noun sueño can refer to sleep itself or to a dream. Understanding these related terms is essential for a comprehensive understanding of how to discuss sleep in Spanish. The various uses of dormir allows for expressing a wide range of ideas related to rest and dreams.

In addition to dormir and sueño, other verbs like adormecer (to make sleepy), quedarse dormido (to fall asleep), and trasnochar (to stay up all night) add depth to your ability to describe sleep-related activities and states. Each term offers a unique shade of meaning, allowing for precise and descriptive communication.

Structural Breakdown: Spanish Verbs for “Sleep”

Conjugation of Dormir

Dormir is an -ir verb, which means its conjugation follows a specific pattern. However, it’s also a stem-changing verb, specifically an o > ue stem-changing verb in the present tense and a o > u stem-changing verb in the preterite (past) tense. This means that the “o” in the stem changes to “ue” or “u” in certain forms.

Here’s a breakdown of the present tense conjugation:

• Yo duermo (I sleep)
• Tú duermes (You sleep)
• Él/Ella/Usted duerme (He/She/You formal sleep)
• Nosotros/Nosotras dormimos (We sleep)
• Vosotros/Vosotras dormís (You all sleep – Spain)
• Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes duermen (They/You all sleep)

Notice the stem change from “o” to “ue” in all forms except nosotros/nosotras and vosotros/vosotras.

Here’s the preterite tense conjugation:

• Yo dormí (I slept)
• Tú dormiste (You slept)
• Él/Ella/Usted durmió (He/She/You formal slept)
• Nosotros/Nosotras dormimos (We slept)
• Vosotros/Vosotras dormisteis (You all slept – Spain)
• Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes durmieron (They/You all slept)

Notice the stem change from “o” to “u” in the él/ella/usted and ellos/ellas/ustedes forms.

Other Important Tenses

It’s also important to understand how dormir is conjugated in other tenses, such as the imperfect, future, and conditional.

• Imperfect: Yo dormía (I used to sleep/I was sleeping)
• Future: Yo dormiré (I will sleep)
• Conditional: Yo dormiría (I would sleep)

These tenses allow you to express past habits, future plans, and hypothetical situations related to sleep.

Types and Categories of “Sleep” Vocabulary

Nouns Related to Sleep

Several nouns are closely related to the concept of sleep and can enrich your vocabulary.

• Sueño: Sleep, dream
• Siesta: Nap
• Insomnio: Insomnia
• Pesadilla: Nightmare
• Cama: Bed
• Almohada: Pillow
• Manta/Cobija: Blanket

Verbs Related to Sleep

Besides dormir, other verbs can describe specific actions or states related to sleep.

• Adormecer: To make sleepy, to numb
• Quedarse dormido/a: To fall asleep
• Despertarse: To wake up
• Trasnochar: To stay up all night
• Roncar: To snore
• Soñar: To dream

Adjectives and Adverbs Related to Sleep

Adjectives and adverbs can add detail and description to your conversations about sleep.

• Dormido/a: Asleep
• Somnoliento/a: Sleepy
• Profundamente: Deeply (e.g., dormir profundamente – to sleep deeply)
• Ligeramente: Lightly (e.g., dormir ligeramente – to sleep lightly)

Examples of “Sleep” in Spanish

Examples Using Dormir

The following table illustrates the use of dormir in various tenses and contexts. Each example provides a clear demonstration of how to use the verb in a sentence.

Tense	Example	Translation
Present	Yo duermo ocho horas cada noche.	I sleep eight hours every night.
Present	¿Duermes bien?	Do you sleep well?
Present	Ella duerme la siesta después del almuerzo.	She takes a nap after lunch.
Preterite	Ayer dormí muy mal.	Yesterday I slept very badly.
Preterite	Nosotros dormimos en un hotel durante las vacaciones.	We slept in a hotel during the vacation.
Imperfect	Cuando era niño, dormía con un peluche.	When I was a child, I used to sleep with a stuffed animal.
Future	Mañana dormiré hasta tarde.	Tomorrow I will sleep in late.
Conditional	Si no tuviera que trabajar, dormiría todo el día.	If I didn’t have to work, I would sleep all day.
Subjunctive	Es importante que duermas lo suficiente.	It’s important that you sleep enough.
Imperative	¡Duerme bien!	Sleep well!
Present Perfect	He dormido bien esta semana.	I have slept well this week.
Past Perfect	Ya había dormido cuando llegaste.	I had already slept when you arrived.
Future Perfect	Para mañana, habré dormido lo suficiente.	By tomorrow, I will have slept enough.
Conditional Perfect	Habría dormido más si no hubiera tenido que levantarme temprano.	I would have slept more if I hadn’t had to get up early.
Present Subjunctive	Espero que duerman bien esta noche.	I hope they sleep well tonight.
Imperfect Subjunctive	Quería que durmieras más.	I wanted you to sleep more.
Future Subjunctive (rarely used)	Si durmiere bien, estaría más enérgico.	If I were to sleep well, I would be more energetic.
Gerund	Está durmiendo ahora mismo.	He/She is sleeping right now.
Infinitive	Me gusta dormir hasta tarde los fines de semana.	I like to sleep in late on weekends.
Compound Tense	Voy a dormir una siesta.	I am going to take a nap.

Examples Using Sueño

This table demonstrates how to use sueño (sleep/dream) in various contexts. The dual meaning of sueño makes it a versatile and important word to understand.

Category	Example	Translation
Sleep (noun)	Tengo sueño.	I am sleepy. (I have sleep.)
Sleep (noun)	El sueño es importante para la salud.	Sleep is important for health.
Dream (noun)	Tuve un sueño extraño anoche.	I had a strange dream last night.
Dream (noun)	Ella siempre sigue sus sueños.	She always follows her dreams.
Expression	Morirse de sueño	To be dying of sleepiness.
Adjective	Ese coche es de sueño.	That car is dream-worthy.
Verb (Soñar)	Anoche soñé contigo.	Last night I dreamed about you.
Noun Phrase	Un sueño reparador	A restful sleep
Descriptive	El sueño profundo	Deep sleep
Figurative	Estar en un sueño	To be in a dream
Past Dream	Tuve un sueño muy raro.	I had a very weird dream.
Future Dream	Espero tener un sueño agradable esta noche.	I hope to have a pleasant dream tonight.
Desire	Mi sueño es viajar por el mundo.	My dream is to travel the world.
Discussion	¿De qué soñaste anoche?	What did you dream about last night?
Abstract	El sueño de la razón produce monstruos.	The sleep of reason produces monsters.
Childlike	Tengo mucho sueño, quiero dormir.	I am very sleepy, I want to sleep.
Planning	Voy a echarme un sueño.	I’m going to take a nap.
Reflecting	Fue todo un sueño.	It was all a dream.
Expressing	¡Qué sueño tengo!	How sleepy I am!
Inquiry	¿Tienes sueño?	Are you sleepy?

Examples Using Related Verbs

This table showcases the use of verbs related to sleep, providing context and usage examples. Mastering these verbs will significantly enhance your ability to discuss sleep-related topics in Spanish.

Verb	Example	Translation
Adormecer	La medicina me adormeció.	The medicine made me sleepy.
Quedarse dormido/a	Me quedé dormido en el sofá.	I fell asleep on the sofa.
Despertarse	Me despierto a las 7 de la mañana.	I wake up at 7 in the morning.
Trasnochar	Trasnochamos para terminar el proyecto.	We stayed up all night to finish the project.
Roncar	Mi esposo ronca mucho.	My husband snores a lot.
Soñar	Anoche soñé con mi abuela.	Last night I dreamed about my grandmother.
Adormecer (reflexive)	El calor me adormece	The heat makes me sleepy
Quedarse dormido (impersonal)	Se me quedó dormida la pierna.	My leg fell asleep.
Despertarse (reflexive)	Despertarse con el canto de los pájaros es maravilloso.	Waking up to the sound of birds is wonderful.
Trasnochar (habitual)	No debes trasnochar tan seguido.	You shouldn’t stay up so late so often.
Roncar (descriptive)	El perro ronca suavemente.	The dog snores softly.
Soñar (with hopes)	Sueño con un futuro mejor.	I dream of a better future.
Adormecer (figurative)	La monotonía adormece el espíritu.	Monotony dulls the spirit.
Quedarse dormido (unexpected)	Me quedé dormido en clase.	I fell asleep in class.
Despertarse (early)	Me desperté muy temprano hoy.	I woke up very early today.
Trasnochar (for fun)	Trasnochamos en la fiesta.	We stayed up late at the party.
Roncar (loudly)	Mi padre ronca muy fuerte.	My father snores very loudly.
Soñar (repeatedly)	Sueño con el mar cada noche.	I dream of the sea every night.
Adormecer (gradually)	El cansancio me adormeció poco a poco.	Tiredness made me sleepy little by little.
Quedarse dormido (at work)	Casi me quedo dormido en el trabajo.	I almost fell asleep at work.

Examples Using Adjectives and Adverbs

Using adjectives and adverbs effectively can significantly enrich your descriptions of sleep. This table provides examples of how to incorporate these words into your Spanish vocabulary.

Category	Example	Translation
Dormido/a	El bebé está dormido.	The baby is asleep.
Somnoliento/a	Me siento somnoliento después de comer.	I feel sleepy after eating.
Profundamente	Dormí profundamente anoche.	I slept deeply last night.
Ligeramente	Solo dormí ligeramente.	I only slept lightly.
Descriptive	Un sueño reparador	A restful sleep
State	Estar dormido profundamente.	To be deeply asleep.
Dormido (comparison)	Pareces dormido.	You seem asleep.
Somnoliento (feeling)	Estoy somnoliento por el calor.	I am sleepy because of the heat.
Profundamente (effect)	El ruido no me dejó dormir profundamente.	The noise didn’t let me sleep deeply.
Ligeramente (wake up)	Me desperté ligeramente varias veces.	I woke up lightly several times.
Dormido (peacefully)	El gato está dormido plácidamente.	The cat is sleeping peacefully.
Somnoliento (cause)	El medicamento me pone somnoliento.	The medicine makes me sleepy.
Profundamente (benefit)	Dormir profundamente es esencial para la salud.	Sleeping deeply is essential for health.
Ligeramente (interrupted)	Dormí ligeramente debido al ruido de la calle.	I slept lightly due to the street noise.
Dormido (motionless)	Permaneció dormido durante toda la noche.	He remained asleep throughout the night.
Somnoliento (afternoon)	Me siento somnoliento por la tarde.	I feel sleepy in the afternoon.
Profundamente (relaxing)	Dormir profundamente me relaja.	Sleeping deeply relaxes me.
Ligeramente (disturbed)	Dormí ligeramente porque estaba preocupado.	I slept lightly because I was worried.
Dormido (quietly)	El niño está dormido tranquilamente.	The child is sleeping quietly.
Somnoliento (morning)	Estoy somnoliento por la mañana.	I am sleepy in the morning.

Usage Rules for “Dormir” and Related Verbs

Stem Changes in Dormir

Remember that dormir is a stem-changing verb. This means that the “o” in the stem changes to “ue” in the present tense (except for nosotros/nosotras and vosotros/vosotras forms) and to “u” in the preterite tense (in the third person singular and plural forms).

Present Tense: Yo duermo, tú duermes, él/ella/usted duerme, nosotros dormimos, vosotros dormís, ellos/ellas/ustedes duermen

Preterite Tense: Yo dormí, tú dormiste, él/ella/usted durmió, nosotros dormimos, vosotros dormisteis, ellos/ellas/ustedes durmieron

Reflexive Use of Quedarse Dormido

The verb quedarse dormido/a is often used reflexively to indicate that someone fell asleep unintentionally. The reflexive pronoun (me, te, se, nos, os, se) is placed before the conjugated verb.

Example: Me quedé dormido en clase. (I fell asleep in class.)

Using Tener Sueño

To express that you are sleepy, you use the expression tener sueño (to have sleep). This is a common and natural way to say “I am sleepy” in Spanish.

Example: Tengo mucho sueño. (I am very sleepy.)

Distinguishing Between Sueño and Soñar

It’s important to distinguish between the noun sueño (sleep/dream) and the verb soñar (to dream). Sueño refers to the state of sleep or a dream, while soñar refers to the act of dreaming.

Example: Tuve un sueño interesante anoche. Soñé con mi infancia. (I had an interesting dream last night. I dreamed about my childhood.)

Common Mistakes When Talking About Sleep

Incorrect Conjugation of Dormir

Incorrect: Yo dormo ocho horas.
Correct: Yo duermo ocho horas.

Explanation: Forgetting the stem change in the present tense is a common mistake. Remember that the “o” changes to “ue” in most forms.

Misusing Ser and Estar with Dormido

Incorrect: Yo soy dormido.
Correct: Yo estoy dormido.

Explanation: Use estar to describe a temporary state (being asleep), not ser, which is used for permanent characteristics.

Confusing Sueño and Soñar

Incorrect: Yo sueño sueño.
Correct: Yo tengo sueño. (I am sleepy) or Yo sueño con mi familia. (I dream about my family)

Explanation: Sueño is a noun (sleep/dream), while soñar is a verb (to dream). Use tener sueño to express sleepiness and soñar con to express dreaming about something.

Incorrect Word Order with Reflexive Verbs

Incorrect: Dormido me quedé.
Correct: Me quedé dormido.

Explanation: The reflexive pronoun (me, te, se, nos, os, se) should come before the conjugated verb.

Practice Exercises

Exercise 1: Conjugate Dormir

Fill in the blanks with the correct conjugation of dormir in the present tense.

Pronoun	Verb
Yo	__________
Tú	__________
Él/Ella/Usted	__________
Nosotros/Nosotras	__________
Vosotros/Vosotras	__________
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	__________

Answers: duermo, duermes, duerme, dormimos, dormís, duermen

Exercise 2: Translate the Sentences

Translate the following sentences into Spanish using the appropriate form of dormir or related vocabulary.

1. I sleep eight hours every night.
2. She fell asleep on the train.
3. Are you sleepy?
4. We stayed up all night studying.
5. He snores very loudly.
6. I had a strange dream last night.
7. They sleep late on weekends.
8. She is making the baby sleepy.
9. I want to sleep more.
10. She is deeply asleep.

Answers:

1. Yo duermo ocho horas cada noche.
2. Ella se quedó dormida en el tren.
3. ¿Tienes sueño?
4. Trasnochamos estudiando.
5. Él ronca muy fuerte.
6. Tuve un sueño extraño anoche.
7. Ellos duermen hasta tarde los fines de semana.
8. Ella está adormeciendo al bebé.
9. Quiero dormir más.
10. Ella está profundamente dormida.

Exercise 3: Fill in the Blanks

Complete the sentences with the correct word from the following list: sueño, soñar, dormido, adormecer, despertar.

1. Tengo mucho __________.
2. Me gusta __________ con los ángeles.
3. El bebé está __________.
4. La medicina me va a __________.
5. Me voy a __________ temprano mañana.

Answers:

1. Tengo mucho sueño.
2. Me gusta soñar con los ángeles.
3. El bebé está dormido.
4. La medicina me va a adormecer.
5. Me voy a despertar temprano mañana.

Exercise 4: Multiple Choice

Choose the correct option to complete each sentence.

1. Yo __________ ocho horas cada noche.
   1. dormo
   2. duermo
   3. dormimos
2. Ella se __________ en el sofá.
   1. quedo dormido
   2. quedó dormido
   3. quedaba dormido
3. ¿Tienes __________?
   1. dormir
   2. sueño
   3. soñar
4. Nosotros __________ hasta tarde los fines de semana.
   1. duermen
   2. dormimos
   3. dormo
5. Anoche yo __________ con mi abuela.
   1. soñé
   2. sueño
   3. dormí

Answers:

1. b
2. b
3. b
4. b
5. a

Advanced Topics: Idiomatic Expressions and Nuances

Idiomatic Expressions with Dormir

Spanish, like any language, has idiomatic expressions related to sleep that can add color and expressiveness to your speech.

• Dormirse en los laureles: To rest on one’s laurels (to become complacent after achieving success).
• Dormir a pierna suelta: To sleep soundly (literally, “to sleep with a loose leg”).
• No pegar ojo: To not sleep a wink.

Cultural Nuances

The concept of sleep and rest can vary across cultures. In Spain and many Latin American countries, the siesta (afternoon nap) is a common practice, especially in warmer climates. Understanding these cultural nuances can help you better appreciate and interpret Spanish conversations about sleep.

Using Echar una Siesta

The phrase echar una siesta means “to take a nap.” It’s a common expression and reflects the cultural importance of the afternoon nap in many Spanish-speaking countries.

Example: Voy a echar una siesta después del almuerzo. (I’m going to take a nap after lunch.)

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the difference between dormir and soñar?

Dormir means “to sleep,” referring to the act of being in a state of rest. Soñar means “to dream,” referring to the experience of having thoughts, images, or feelings during sleep. For example: “Yo duermo ocho horas” (I sleep eight hours) and “Yo soñé con mi perro” (I dreamed about my dog).

2. How do I say “I am sleepy” in Spanish?

The most common way to say “I am sleepy” is Tengo sueño. This literally translates to “I have sleepiness.”

3. What is the stem change in the verb dormir?

The verb dormir is an o > ue stem-changing verb in the present tense and an o > u stem-changing verb in the preterite tense. This means the “o” in the stem changes to “ue” in most present tense forms (except nosotros/nosotras and vosotros/vosotras) and to “u” in the third person singular and plural preterite forms.

4. How do I use quedarse dormido/a correctly?

Quedarse dormido/a is used reflexively to indicate falling asleep unintentionally. The reflexive pronoun (me, te, se, nos, os, se) comes before the verb. For example: Me quedé dormido en el sofá. (I fell asleep on the sofa.)

5. What does echar una siesta mean?

Echar una siesta means “to take a nap.” It’s a common expression in Spanish-speaking countries where afternoon naps are a cultural norm.

6. How do I say “sleep well” in Spanish?

You can say “sleep well” in Spanish as “Duerme bien.” This is an imperative form of the verb dormir, giving a command or wish for someone to sleep well.

7. What are some other words related to sleep in Spanish?

Besides dormir and sueño, you can use words like insomnio (insomnia), pesadilla (nightmare), despertarse (to wake up), trasnochar (to stay up all night), and roncar (to snore) to talk about sleep.

8. Is ‘dormir’ always used with ‘estar’ to describe someone sleeping?

No, ‘dormir’ is the verb itself, meaning ‘to sleep’. To

say someone *is* sleeping, you use the present progressive form, ‘estar durmiendo’ (He is sleeping: ‘Él está durmiendo’).

‘Estar dormido’, on the other hand, means ‘to be asleep’ (He is asleep: ‘Él está dormido’).

9. How can I improve my pronunciation of these words?

Listen to native Spanish speakers pronounce these words. Websites like Forvo or SpanishDict provide audio pronunciations.

Practice repeating the words and phrases, paying attention to the stress and rhythm of the language.

10. Are there regional differences in how people talk about sleep?

Yes, as with any language, there can be regional variations. For example, the specific vocabulary used for bedding (like “manta” vs. “cobija” for blanket) can vary. However, the core vocabulary and grammar related to sleep (like dormir and tener sueño) are widely understood.

11. How do I ask someone if they slept well?

You can ask “Did you sleep well?” in Spanish in several ways, such as “¿Dormiste bien?”, “¿Descansaste bien?” (Did you rest well?), or “¿Dormiste a gusto?” (Did you sleep comfortably?).

Conclusion

In conclusion, mastering the vocabulary and grammar related to “sleep” in Spanish involves understanding the verb dormir, its conjugations, and related terms like sueño, adormecer, and despertarse. By practicing the examples and exercises provided in this guide, you can confidently discuss sleep-related topics in Spanish. Remember to pay attention to stem changes, reflexive verb usage, and common expressions to enhance your fluency and accuracy. Understanding the cultural nuances will also help you appreciate the context in which these words are used.

Continue practicing and incorporating these words and phrases into your conversations to improve your Spanish language skills. With dedication and practice, you will become proficient in expressing your thoughts and experiences related to sleep in Spanish.