duerme bien
/dweɾme bjen/from spelling rules
The English phrase 'sleep right' can be translated into Spanish as duerme bien.
While duerme bien is used to tell someone to sleep well, you may also encounter other ways to discuss sleep. For example, Tener buenos hábitos de sueño means to have good sleep habits. If you want to wish someone a restful sleep, the formal Tener un sueño reparador can be used. To wish someone sweet dreams, you can say Que tengas dulces sueños or Que sueñes con los angelitos, which means 'May you dream with the little angels'.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form duerme bien is the imperative (command) form used when speaking to one person informally (tú). To tell more than one person to sleep well, use duerman bien. To tell one person to sleep well using the formal usted register, use duerma bien.
Did you know?
- To describe a very deep sleep, Spanish speakers might say someone is dormido como un tronco, meaning they are 'asleep like a log'.
- In some regions, instead of saying duerme bien, people may use the phrase descansa which literally means 'rest', treating the act of sleeping as a form of recovery.
- The word bien in Spanish is a direct descendant of the Latin 'bene', which is also the root for many English words like 'benefit' or 'beneficial'.
Examples in context
- Es importante tener buenos hábitos de sueño para descansar adecuadamente.It's important to have good sleep habits to rest properly.
- Antes de irme a dormir, quiero desearte que tengas dulces sueños.Before going to sleep, I want to wish you sweet dreams.
- Duerme bien, que mañana hay mucho que hacer.Sleep well, there is a lot to do tomorrow.
- Te vas tarde, duerme bien.You are leaving late, sleep well.
Example conversation
Javier is saying goodbye to Sofía at her apartment door.
- JavierYa es muy tarde, Sofía.It is already very late, Sofía.
- SofíaSí, tengo mucho sueño.Yes, I am very sleepy.
- JavierEstá bien, duerme bien.Alright, sleep well.
- SofíaGracias, Javier. Hasta mañana.Thanks, Javier. See you tomorrow.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bien, CC BY-SA 4.0.
