me voy a dormir
/me boi a doɾmiɾ/from spelling rules
The English phrase "I go to sleep" is translated into Spanish as me voy a dormir.
What does it mean word for word?
Literally, me voy a dormir translates to "I go myself to sleep" because it combines the reflexive verb irse (to go away or to leave) with dormir (to sleep).
Which one should you use?
While me voy a dormir emphasizes the intention to head to bed, the phrase me duermo is used specifically to refer to the act of actually falling asleep.
How does it change in a sentence?
To say "you go to sleep" in an informal way, change the reflexive pronoun me to te and the conjugated verb voy to vas, resulting in te vas a dormir.
Did you know?
- The verb dormir is used in the common idiom dormirse en los laureles, which means to become complacent or lazy after a success. It literally translates to 'falling asleep in the laurels'.
- The word dormir shares a prehistoric root with the English word 'dream', as both originate from the Proto-Indo-European root *drem-.
- English speakers can use the word 'sleepy' to describe themselves, but in Spanish, you would say tengo sueño, which literally means 'I have sleep'.
Examples in context
- Me voy a dormir aproximadamente a la medianoche.I go to sleep at about midnight.This sentence shows how to use me voy a dormir when discussing a time of night.Tatoeba #6393132 by dfrankmv, translation #2074237 by _undertoad
- "Si estás cansado, ¿por qué no te vas a dormir?" "Porque si me voy a dormir ahora, me despertaré demasiado pronto.""If you're tired, why don't you go to sleep?" "Because if I go to sleep now I will wake up too early."This sentence demonstrates a dialogue where me voy a dormir is used to explain a reason for not going to sleep immediately.Tatoeba #2891 by Shishir, translation #1725 by Swift
- Ya es tarde, me voy a dormir.It is late, I am going to sleep.
Example conversation
Mateo and María are talking at home late at night.
- MateoTengo mucho sueño.I am very sleepy.
- MaríaEntonces, me voy a dormir ahora mismo.Then, I am going to sleep right now.
- MateoQue descanses, María.Rest well, María.
- MaríaGracias, Mateo. Buenas noches.Thank you, Mateo. Good night.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries a, dormir, me, voy, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
