ella está durmiendo
/eʝa esta duɾmjendo/from spelling rules
The English phrase "she is sleeping" is translated into Spanish as ella está durmiendo.
This phrase describes a female person who is currently in the state of sleep.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of ella (she), está (is) and durmiendo (sleeping).
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase uses the present continuous construction with the auxiliary verb estar and the gerund durmiendo.
Did you know?
- If someone is 'sleeping like a log', a Spanish speaker might say está durmiendo como un tronco, using a tree-based metaphor instead of a wooden object.
- While durmiendo is the literal word for sleeping, Spanish speakers frequently use the phrase está dormida to describe someone who is already asleep. This shifts the focus from the action of sleeping to the state of being asleep.
- The pronoun ella is derived from the Latin word illa, which originally meant 'that woman' or 'that one'.
Examples in context
- Sé que ella está durmiendo.I know she is sleeping.This sentence is useful for expressing the knowledge that ella está durmiendo.Tatoeba #4398458 by pchamorro, translation #308509 by CK
- Ella está durmiendo en el sofá.She is sleeping on the sofa.
- No la despiertes, ella está durmiendo.Don't wake her, she is sleeping.
Example conversation
Javier is whispering to María in the living room.
- Javier¿Dónde está la bebé?Where is the baby?
- MaríaElla está durmiendo en su cuna.She is sleeping in her crib.
- JavierEntonces no hagamos ruido.Then let's not make noise.
- MaríaSí, ella está durmiendo profundamente.Yes, she is sleeping deeply.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ella, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
