hora de dormir
/oɾa de doɾmiɾ/from spelling rules
The English phrase "time for bed" is translated into Spanish as hora de dormir.
This phrase is used to tell someone that it is the time of day to go to sleep.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase hora de dormir literally translates to "hour of to sleep".
Which one should you use?
While hora de dormir is the standard phrase, you may also use hora de acostarse, which focuses more specifically on the action of lying down.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico, the informal phrase Es hora de meterse en la cama is used to say "It is time to get into bed."
How does it change in a sentence?
To form the complete sentence "It is time for bed", you add the verb Es (It is) to the front of the phrase, resulting in Es hora de dormir.
How do you pronounce it?
/oɾa de doɾmiɾ/
Did you know?
- In some regions, saying me voy a los brazos de Morfeo is a poetic way to say it is time for bed, referencing the Greek god of dreams.
- The root of dormir is the Proto-Indo-European *drem-, which is a distant relative of the English word 'dream'.
- In Spanish, the word dormir can be used as quedarse dormido, which specifically means to accidentally fall asleep when you didn't intend to.
Examples in context
- Es hora de dormir.Time for bed.This sentence is useful for seeing how to use hora de dormir in a complete sentence.Tatoeba #1057957 by darinmex, translation #268899 by sundown
- Querida abuela, es hora de dormir. Descanse bien.Dear grandma, it is time to sleep. Rest well.
- Mi amor, es hora de ir a la cama. Descansa bien.My love, it is time to go to bed. Sleep well.
- Ya es tarde, vamos a descansar ahora.It's getting late, let's rest now.
- Hijos, es hora de ir a la cama. Mañana tenemos un largo día por delante, así que asegúrense de descansar bien.Children, it's time to go to bed. We have a long day ahead tomorrow, so make sure to rest well.
- Ya es hora de dormir.It is already time for bed.
- Los niños, es hora de dormir.Children, it is time for bed.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Alejandro is telling Lucía that it is getting late at night.
- AlejandroLucía, ya es muy tarde.Lucía, it is already very late.
- Lucía¿Es hora de dormir ya?Is it time for bed already?
- AlejandroSí, es hora de dormir.Yes, it is time for bed.
- LucíaEstá bien, me voy a descansar.Okay, I am going to rest.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries de, dormir, hora, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
