ir a la cama
/iɾ a la kama/from spelling rules
The English phrase 'go to bed' is translated into Spanish as ir a la cama.
ir a la cama is used to describe the act of going to a bed to lie down for sleep.
Meaning: to lie down to sleep (verb)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the verb ir (to go), the preposition a (to) and the noun phrase la cama (the bed).
Which one should you use?
While ir a la cama literally means 'to go to the bed', the reflexive verb acostarse is a very common alternative used to express the act of going to bed or lying down.
How does it change in a sentence?
When using ir a la cama to express that you personally are going to bed, it is common in many dialects to use the reflexive pronoun me with the verb (as in me voy a la cama), although voy a la cama is also grammatically correct.
Did you know?
- Spanish has a specific term, trasnochar, for the act of staying awake late into the night or not going to bed at the usual time.
- The verb ir is so irregular that it uses three different Latin roots. 'I go' (voy) comes from 'vādere', 'I went' (fui) comes from 'esse' and the infinitive ir comes from 'īre'.
Examples in context
- Me tengo que ir a la cama.I have to go to bed.This sentence shows how to express that you must go to bed using ir a la cama.Tatoeba #2601 by Shishir, translation #1395 by brauliobezerra
- No me quiero ir a la cama.I don't want to go to bed.This sentence shows how to express a lack of desire to go to bed using ir a la cama.Tatoeba #1469879 by marcelostockle, translation #718925 by CK
- ¡Aún no me quiero ir a la cama!I don't want to go to bed yet.This sentence shows how to express that you do not want to go to bed yet using ir a la cama.Tatoeba #1562112 by marcelostockle, translation #1477932 by CK
- Señora, se está haciendo tarde. Le recomiendo ir a acostarse temprano.Madam, it's getting late. I recommend you go to bed early.
- Señor, debe irse a dormir.Sir, you need to go to bed.
- Señora, es importante para su salud que vaya a dormir ahora.Ma'am, it's important for your health that you go to bed now.
- ¡Oye, ya es tarde! Ve a dormir o estarás cansado mañana.Hey, it's late! Go to bed or you'll be tired tomorrow.
- Niños, es hora de dormir. ¡A la cama!Kids, it's bedtime. Time to go to bed!
- Cariño, vayamos a dormir temprano esta noche.Sweetheart, let's go to bed early tonight.
- 9 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Javier and María are talking late at night in the living room.
- JavierYa es muy tarde, voy a ir a la cama.It is already very late, I'm going to go to bed.
- MaríaYo también, Javier. Estoy muy cansada.Me too, Javier. I am very tired.
- Javier¿Quieres ir a la cama ahora mismo?Do you want to go to bed right now?
- MaríaSí, María ya está lista para dormir.Yes, María is already ready to sleep.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries a, cama, ir, la, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
