What is the present subjunctive of dormir in Spanish?

The present subjunctive of dormir is: duerma, duermas, duerma, durmamos, durmáis, duerman. Boot-shaped o → ue change in yo/tú/él/ellos; o → u change in nosotros and vosotros (durmamos, durmáis).

Why do nosotros and vosotros change o to u in the subjunctive?

This second stem change (o → u) is characteristic of -ir stem-changing verbs in unstressed positions. It happens in the present subjunctive (durmamos), preterite (durmieron), gerund (durmiendo), and -ra imperfect subjunctive. The same pattern applies to morir (muramos), sentir (sintamos), pedir (pidamos), and other -ir stem-changers.

How is subjunctive dormir different from poder's subjunctive (puedan / podamos)?

Both have o → ue stem changes in the boot, but poder (an -er verb) reverts to the original o in nosotros/vosotros (podamos, podáis). Dormir (an -ir verb) takes a second change to u (durmamos, durmáis). The -ir verbs have the extra change; the -er verbs don't.

When do I use duerma as a command?

Duerma is the usted command (sleep!); duerman is the ustedes command. For tú, the affirmative is duerme (regular boot form), and the negative tú command uses the subjunctive: no duermas. The nosotros let's command is durmamos.

How can I learn subjunctive dormir naturally?

Sleep is a constant topic in everyday conversation: wishes for good sleep, recommendations for rest, doubts about how someone sleeps. Parrot's short-form videos surface these contexts repeatedly, so duerma / duermas / durmamos become automatic with exposure.

Spanish grammar · Intermediate

Subjunctive of Dormir: All Forms with Examples

Written by Sofia Ramirez, Lead Spanish Curriculum Editor · Reviewed May 2026

Dormir's present subjunctive: duerma, duermas, duerma, durmamos, durmáis, duerman. Boot-shaped o → ue in four forms; nosotros and vosotros take a different o → u change (durmamos, durmáis). Typical of -ir stem-changers.

Espero que duermas bien.

I hope you sleep well.

What it is

Dormir's present subjunctive: duerma, duermas, duerma, durmamos, durmáis, duerman. Two stem changes happen: o → ue in the four boot-shaped forms (yo, tú, él, ellos), and o → u in the nosotros and vosotros forms (durmamos, durmáis). This double-change pattern is characteristic of -ir stem-changing verbs in the subjunctive (compare with sentir → sienta / sintamos and pedir → pida / pidamos).

In Espero que duermas bien (I hope you sleep well), duermas is the tú subjunctive of dormir. The hope trigger forces the mood shift.

How to spot it

Look for duerm- in yo/tú/él/ellos and durm- in nosotros/vosotros. The o changes to ue when stressed (boot) and to u when unstressed (nosotros/vosotros).

Quiero que duermas más. — I want you to sleep more.
Dudo que durmamos en el avión. — I doubt we'll sleep on the plane.
Es importante que duerma ocho horas. — It's important he sleep eight hours.

Dormir is the textbook example of an -ir verb with both o → ue (stressed) and o → u (unstressed) stem changes.

Subjunctive of Dormir Quick Reference

Present subjunctive of dormir, all six forms

Person	Form	Translation
yo	duerma	(that) I sleep
tú	duermas	(that) you sleep
él/ella/Ud.	duerma	(that) he, she, you (formal) sleep
nosotros	durmamos	(that) we sleep
vosotros	durmáis	(that) you all sleep (Spain)
ellos/Uds.	duerman	(that) they, you all sleep

Common Subjunctive of Dormir Examples in Spanish

Subjunctive dormir shows up in wishes about sleep, recommendations for rest, and emotional reactions to how someone sleeps. It pairs with all standard W.E.I.R.D.O. triggers.

Wishes About Sleep

Espero que duermas bien.: I hope you sleep well.
Quiero que duerma una siesta.: I want her to take a nap.
Deseo que durmamos en paz.: I wish we'd sleep in peace.
Quiere que duermas más temprano.: She wants you to sleep earlier.
Esperan que duerman bien esta noche.: They hope they sleep well tonight.

Wishes about good sleep are one of the most common contexts for subjunctive dormir, especially in goodnight wishes.

Recommendations

Te recomiendo que duermas ocho horas.: I recommend you sleep eight hours.
El médico aconseja que duerma sin pastillas.: The doctor advises him to sleep without pills.
Sugiero que durmamos en otro cuarto.: I suggest we sleep in another room.
Te pido que duermas conmigo.: I'm asking you to sleep with me.
Les sugiere que duerman en hostales.: She suggests they sleep in hostels.

Sleep-related recommendations are constant in health and travel contexts.

Doubt About Sleep

Dudo que duerma sin ruido.: I doubt he sleeps without noise.
No creo que duermas en el suelo.: I don't think you'd sleep on the floor.
Es posible que durmamos en el coche.: It's possible we'll sleep in the car.
Puede que duerma mucho.: She might sleep a lot.
Quizás duerman pocas horas.: Maybe they'll sleep few hours.

Doubt about sleep habits, locations, or duration takes the subjunctive of dormir.

Impersonal Triggers

Es importante que duermas suficiente.: It's important you sleep enough.
Es necesario que durmamos para descansar.: It's necessary that we sleep to rest.
Es bueno que duerma sin alarmas.: It's good he sleeps without alarms.
Es raro que duerman tan poco.: It's strange they sleep so little.
Es mejor que duermas con la ventana abierta.: It's better you sleep with the window open.

Impersonal expressions evaluating sleep habits trigger the subjunctive.

How to Form the Subjunctive of Dormir

Boot Pattern: O → UE (Stressed)

In the four boot-shaped forms (yo, tú, él, ellos), the o changes to ue when stressed: duerma, duermas, duerma, duerman. This is the same change as in the present indicative.

duerma, duermas, duerma, duerman.

Stressed o becomes ue inside the boot.

Same boot shape as the present indicative.

Outside Boot: O → U (Unstressed)

In the unstressed nosotros and vosotros forms, the o changes to u (not back to original o): durmamos, durmáis. This o → u shift is unique to -ir stem-changing verbs in the subjunctive and preterite stem-changes. It does NOT happen in -ar or -er stem-changers.

durmamos, durmáis.

Unstressed o becomes u, not back to o.

ir stem-changers: second stem change in nosotros/vosotros.

Regular -ir Subjunctive Endings

Endings follow the standard -ir pattern: -a, -as, -a, -amos, -áis, -an. The vowel switch (subjunctive uses opposite vowel of -ir infinitive) applies.

duerma, duermas, duerma, durmamos, durmáis, duerman.

Regular -ir subjunctive endings.

Same endings as any -ir verb in the subjunctive.

Same Triggers as All Subjunctives

Subjunctive dormir responds to all standard W.E.I.R.D.O. triggers. Wish (espero que duermas), recommendation (te recomiendo que duermas), impersonal (es importante que duermas), doubt (dudo que duerma).

Quiero que. Te recomiendo que. Es importante que.

Same triggers across all verbs.

Trigger + que = subjunctive.

Common Mistakes with Subjunctive of Dormir

Incorrect: Espero que dormimos bien. — I hope we sleep well. (wrong, indicative-style nosotros)

Correct: Espero que durmamos bien. — I hope we sleep well.

After esperar que, the nosotros form must be subjunctive. The subjunctive form is durmamos with o → u (not dormimos, which is the indicative).

Incorrect: Quiero que duermes más. — I want you to sleep more. (wrong, indicative after querer que)

Correct: Quiero que duermas más. — I want you to sleep more.

After querer que, the dependent verb must be subjunctive. Duermes is the indicative; duermas is the tú subjunctive form.

Incorrect: Es importante que dormamos suficiente. — It's important we sleep enough. (wrong, no o → u change)

Correct: Es importante que durmamos suficiente. — It's important we sleep enough.

In -ir stem-changing verbs, the nosotros/vosotros subjunctive takes a second stem change (o → u for dormir, e → i for sentir/pedir). It's durmamos, not dormamos.

Subjunctive of Dormir FAQs

What is the present subjunctive of dormir in Spanish?: The present subjunctive of dormir is: duerma, duermas, duerma, durmamos, durmáis, duerman. Boot-shaped o → ue change in yo/tú/él/ellos; o → u change in nosotros and vosotros (durmamos, durmáis).
Why do nosotros and vosotros change o to u in the subjunctive?: This second stem change (o → u) is characteristic of -ir stem-changing verbs in unstressed positions. It happens in the present subjunctive (durmamos), preterite (durmieron), gerund (durmiendo), and -ra imperfect subjunctive. The same pattern applies to morir (muramos), sentir (sintamos), pedir (pidamos), and other -ir stem-changers.
How is subjunctive dormir different from poder's subjunctive (puedan / podamos)?: Both have o → ue stem changes in the boot, but poder (an -er verb) reverts to the original o in nosotros/vosotros (podamos, podáis). Dormir (an -ir verb) takes a second change to u (durmamos, durmáis). The -ir verbs have the extra change; the -er verbs don't.
When do I use duerma as a command?: Duerma is the usted command (sleep!); duerman is the ustedes command. For tú, the affirmative is duerme (regular boot form), and the negative tú command uses the subjunctive: no duermas. The nosotros let's command is durmamos.
How can I learn subjunctive dormir naturally?: Sleep is a constant topic in everyday conversation: wishes for good sleep, recommendations for rest, doubts about how someone sleeps. Parrot's short-form videos surface these contexts repeatedly, so duerma / duermas / durmamos become automatic with exposure.