estaba durmiendo
/estaba duɾmjendo/from spelling rules
The English phrase "I was sleeping" is translated into Spanish as estaba durmiendo.
estaba durmiendo is used to describe an action that was in progress at a specific moment in the past.
Which one should you use?
While estaba durmiendo emphasizes the continuous, ongoing nature of the action, the word dormía is often used to describe habitual actions in the past or general background states.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase estaba durmiendo is constructed using the imperfect indicative of the verb estar combined with the gerund of the verb dormir to express a continuous action in the past.
How do you pronounce it?
/estaba duɾmjendo/
Did you know?
- The word dormir is a cognitive relative of the English word 'dormitory'. Both derive from the Latin 'dormire', which refers specifically to the act of sleeping.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, if someone asks why you didn't answer the phone, saying estaba durmiendo can sometimes sound like a blunt excuse. To sound more polite or natural, people often use me quedé dormido, which translates to 'I fell asleep' rather than 'I was sleeping'.
- If you say estaba durmiendo to imply you were busy, you might be misunderstood, as it is strictly used for the physical act of sleep. To say you were 'sleeping on the job' or being idle, Spanish speakers often use the idiom estar durmiendo en los laureles, meaning 'to be sleeping on one's laurels'.
Examples in context
- Estaba durmiendo.I was sleeping.This sentence is useful for a simple statement of the action.Tatoeba #1888687 by hayastan, translation #1887936 by CK
- Me robaron mi monedero y mi abono de viaje mientras estaba durmiendo en el tren.I had my purse and commutation ticket stolen while I was sleeping on the train.This sentence shows how to use estaba durmiendo to describe an event that occurred while the person was in the middle of sleeping.Tatoeba #1723295 by teskmon, translation #20261 by Swift
- Estaba durmiendo cuando recibí su llamada.I was sleeping when I received your call.
- Me encontraba durmiendo profundamente cuando sonó el timbre.I was deeply asleep when the doorbell rang.
- ¿Qué estabas haciendo? Estaba durmiendo la siesta.What were you doing? I was taking a nap.
- No pude contestar tu llamada porque estaba echando una siesta.I couldn't answer your call because I was taking a nap.
- No oí el teléfono porque estaba durmiendo.I didn't hear the phone because I was sleeping.
Example conversation
Elena asks Daniel why he didn't answer her call last night.
- ElenaDaniel, ¿por qué no contestaste mi llamada?Daniel, why didn't you answer my call?
- DanielLo siento, Elena, estaba durmiendo.I'm sorry, Elena, I was sleeping.
- ElenaNo te preocupes, solo quería contarte algo.Don't worry, I just wanted to tell you something.
- DanielDime, te escucho ahora.Tell me, I'm listening now.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
