vete a dormir ahora
/bete a doɾmiɾ aoɾa/from spelling rules
The English phrase "go to sleep now" is translated into Spanish as vete a dormir ahora.
This phrase is a command used to tell someone to go to bed and begin sleeping immediately.
Which one should you use?
While vete a dormir emphasizes the action of going to bed/moving to a sleeping state, duérmete focuses more on the act of falling asleep.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In some Latin American countries, the phrase Acuéstate ya is used.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form vete in vete a dormir ahora is the informal imperative (tú) form of the reflexive verb irse. If you are commanding a group of people, use vayan instead of vete to say vayan a dormir ahora.
Did you know?
- The word ahora originally came from the Latin phrase hāc hōrā, which literally means 'at this hour'.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, a child might be told to duérmete while being sung a canción de cuna, the equivalent of a lullaby.
- The Spanish word dormir shares a deep linguistic ancestor with the English word 'dormitory'.
Examples in context
- Es tarde, ve a dormir ahora y descansa bienIt's late, go to sleep now and rest well
- Hijo, es tarde, ve a dormir ahora y descansa bien. Mañana tendremos un día emocionante por delanteSon, it's late, go to sleep now and rest well. Tomorrow, we have an exciting day ahead
- Vete a dormir ahora, que es muy tarde.Go to sleep now, it is very late.
- Vete a dormir ahora para que descanses bien.Go to sleep now so that you rest well.
- Mañana tienes clase, así que vete a dormir ahora.You have class tomorrow, so go to sleep now.
Example conversation
A mother is talking to her son in his bedroom at night.
- MaríaMateo, ya es hora de apagar la luz.Mateo, it is time to turn off the light.
- MateoSolo un minuto más, por favor.Just one more minute, please.
- MaríaNo, vete a dormir ahora.No, go to sleep now.
- MateoEstá bien, mamá, me voy a la cama.Okay, mom, I'm going to bed.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries a, ahora, dormir, CC BY-SA 4.0.
