Level A1 (Beginner)

Dormir is an essential A1 French verb meaning ‘to sleep’. The conjugation of dormir in the present tense is: Je dors (I sleep), tu dors (you sleep), il/elle dort (he/she sleeps), nous dormons (we sleep), vous dormez (you sleep) and ils/elles dorment (they sleep).

Dormir is an irregular -ir verb. This means that its endings are different from regular -ir verbs when conjugated in the present tense. It’s present tense end are: -s, -s, -t, -ons, -ez and -ent.

Dormir conjugation table

Dormir conjugation charts

Present tense (le présent)

In the present tense, je dors translates to ‘I sleep’, ‘I am sleeping’ and ‘I do sleep’.

Je dors	I sleep	Je dors dans mon lit.	I sleep in my bed.
Tu dors	You sleep (informal, singular)	Tu dors dans ta chambre.	You sleep is your bedroom.
Il/elle dort	He/she sleeps	Il dort chez sa maman.	He sleeps at his mom's place.
Nous dormons	We sleep	Nous dormons dans un très bon hôtel.	We sleep in a very good hotel.
Vous dormez	You sleep (formal, plural)	Vous dormez dans une tente.	You sleep in a tent.
Ils/elles dorment	They sleep	Ils dorment dans des sacs de couchage.	They sleep in sleeping bags.

Compound past (le passé composé)

In the passé composé, (compound past), ‘J’ai dormi‘ translates to ‘I slept’.

J'ai dormi	I slept	J'ai bien dormi hier soir.	I slept well last night.
Tu as dormi	You slept (informal, singular)	Tu as mal dormi hier soir.	You slept poorly last night.
Il/elle a dormi	He/she slept	Il a dormi chez ses parents.	He slept at his parents house.
Nous avons dormi	We slept	Nous avons dormi dans un grand lit.	We slept in a big bed.
Vous avez dormi	You slept (formal, plural)	Vous avez dormi dans un hôtel de luxe.	You slept in a luxurious hotel.
Ils/elles ont dormi	They slept	Ils ont dormi dans un camping.	They slept in a campsite.

Imperfect (l’imparfait)

The imperfect tense (l’imparfait), ‘Je dormais’ translates to ‘I was sleeping’, ‘I used to sleep’ and ‘I slept’.

Je dormais	I was sleeping, used to sleep	Je dormais quand tu es retourné.	I was sleeping when you returned.
Tu dormais	You were sleeping, used to sleep (informal, singular)	Tu dormais mieux quand tu étais plus jeune.	You used to sleep better when you were younger.
Il/elle dormait	He/she was sleeping, used to sleep	Avant, il dormait chez elle.	Before he used to sleep at her place.
Nous dormions	We were sleeping, used to sleep	Nous dormions quand le téléphoné a sonné.	We were sleeping when the phone rang.
Vous dormiez	You were sleeping, used to sleep (formal, plural)	Vous dormiez quand je vous ai reveillé.	You were sleeping when I woke you up.
Ils/elles dormaient	They were sleeping, used to sleep	Ils dormaient dans la tente quand l'ours a apparu.	They were sleeping when the bear appeared.

Simple future (le future simple)

In French, the simple future (le future simple) tense, ‘Je dormirai’ translates to ‘I will sleep’.

Je dormirai	I will sleep	Je dormirai dans mon lit ce soir.	I will sleep in my bed tonight.
Tu dormiras	You will sleep (informal, singular)	Tu dormiras chez tes grand-parents ce weekend.	You will sleep at your grandparents' house this weekend.
Il/elle dormira	He/she will sleep	Elle dormira dans son pyjama ce soir.	She will sleep in her pyjamas ce soir.
Nous dormirons	We will sleep	Nous dormirons dans un hôtel très cher pendant nos vacances.	We'll sleep in a very expensive hotel during our vacation.
Vous dormirez	You will sleep (formal, plural)	Vous dormirez chez votre tante la semaine prochaine.	You'll sleep at your aunt's house next weekend.
Ils/elles dormiront	They will sleep	Ils dormiront dans la chambre d'amis ce soir.	They'll sleep in the guest room tonight.

Conditional (le conditionnel)

In the conditional mood (le conditionnel), ‘Je dormirais’ translates to ‘I would sleep’.

Je dormirais	I would sleep	Je dormirais jusqu'à midi si c'était possible.	I would sleep until noon if it were possible.
Tu dormirais	You would sleep (informal, singular)	Tu dormirais dans ton propre lit si tu étais chez toi.	You would sleep in your own bed if you were at home.
Il/elle dormirait	He/she would sleep	Elle dormirait jusqu'à dix heures mais elle doit se lever tôt.	She would sleep until 10 o'clock but she has to get up early.
Nous dormirions	We would sleep	Nous dormirions dans cet hôtel si c'était moins cher.	We'd sleep in this hotel if it were less expensive.
Vous dormiriez	You would sleep (formal, plural)	Vous dormiriez dans une tente si vous aimiez le camping.	You'd sleep in a tent if you liked camping.
Ils/elles dormiraient	They would sleep	Ils dormiraient bien si les voisins ne faisaient pas tant de bruit.	They'd sleep well if the neighbors weren't making so much noise.

Subjunctive (le subjonctif)

In the subjunctive mood (le subjonctif). ‘Que je dorme’ translates to ‘that I sleep’.

que je dorme	that I sleep	Il faut que je dorme un peu plus.	I need to sleep a bit more.
que tu dormes	that you sleep (informal, singular)	Je veux que tu dormes dans cette chambre.	I want you to sleep in this room.
qu'il/elle dorme	that he/she sleeps	Je doute qu'elle dorme assez.	I doubt she's sleeping enough.
que nous dormions	that we sleep	Il est heureux que nous dormions bien.	He's happy we're sleeping well.
que vous dormiez	that you sleep (formal, plural)	Je ne pense pas qu'il dorme dans ce lit.	I don't think he's sleeping in this bed.
qu'ils/elles dorment	that they sleep	Je suis content qu'ils dorment dans cette auberge.	I'm happy they're sleeping in this inn.