Ever been at a party in Madrid or a family dinner in Mexico City and realized you’re about to fall over from exhaustion? You want to leave. You need sleep. But saying "I'm going to the bed" sounds like you're reading from a 1990s textbook. Honestly, the way you say go to bed in Spanish depends entirely on who you’re talking to and how tired you actually are.
Spanish is a language of verbs, specifically reflexive ones. If you just translate word-for-word, you’ll end up saying ir a cama, which sounds broken. It's clunky. People will understand you, sure, but you'll stand out like a sore thumb.
The Most Common Way: Irse a la Cama
If you want the safest, most "textbook but actually used" version, it's irse a la cama.
Notice that little "se" at the end of ir? That’s the reflexive part. It basically means you are "moving yourself" to the bed. In a casual conversation, you’d say, "Me voy a la cama." It’s direct. It’s clear. It works in Spain, Argentina, Colombia, and basically everywhere else.
But here’s the thing. Native speakers are often lazy with their syllables.
Sometimes they’ll just say me voy a acostar. The verb acostar specifically means to lay down. When you make it reflexive—acostarse—it transforms into the act of putting yourself to bed. If you’re at a friend’s house and the movie is getting boring, just yawn and say, "Bueno, ya me acuesto."
It’s subtle. It’s natural.
Why "Dormir" Isn't Always the Answer
A common mistake is using the verb dormir.
Dormir means "to sleep." If you say "Me voy a dormir," you’re saying "I’m going to sleep." While this often implies you’re going to bed, it’s not the same thing. You could sleep on a couch. You could sleep in a car. If you specifically want to mention the act of retiring for the night, acostarse or irse a la cama are your best bets.
Think of it this way: acostarse is the physical movement of getting under the covers, while dormir is what happens once your eyes are closed.
Regional Slang and How to Use It
Spanish is huge. It’s diverse. A phrase that sounds perfectly normal in Seville might sound weird in Buenos Aires.
In some parts of Latin America, you might hear people say ir a los sobre. "Me voy al sobre." Literally, "I’m going to the envelope." Why an envelope? Because you’re sliding yourself between the sheets like a letter into an envelope. It’s clever. It’s idiomatic. It’s also very "dad joke" territory, so use it with a wink.
Then you have the more blunt versions.
In Spain, you might hear planchar la oreja. This literally translates to "ironing the ear." It’s what happens when your head hits the pillow and stays there. You’re ironing your ear against the mattress. It’s a very common, very informal way to say you're hitting the hay.
If you’re in a high-energy environment, like a hostel or a shared house, and you want to announce your departure from the social circle, you might just say "Me retiro." It’s slightly formal—literally "I am retiring"—but used ironically, it’s a great way to exit a room.
The Nuance of "A Dormir"
Sometimes, you don't even need a full sentence.
If you're a parent talking to a child, you don't say "Please execute the action of going to bed." You just say, "¡A dormir!" It’s a command. It’s short. It’s effective. You’ll hear this in every Spanish-speaking household around 9:00 PM.
On the flip side, if you're with a partner, the phrasing might change. You might say "Vamos a la cama," which is "Let's go to bed." It's simple and carries the same weight as the English equivalent.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Don't say "Yo voy al cama."
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Cama is feminine. It’s la cama. Also, forgetting the reflexive "me" makes you sound like a robot.
- Wrong: Voy acostar.
- Right: Me voy a acostar.
The "me" is non-negotiable because you are the one performing the action on yourself. If you say "Voy a acostar," someone might ask, "Who are you putting to bed?" because without the "me," you’re implies you’re tucking someone else in, like a child or a pet.
Let's Talk About "Pernoctar"
If you’re reading a police report or a very dry travel brochure, you might see the word pernoctar.
Don't say this to your friends. Ever. Unless you want them to think you’re a 19th-century lawyer. It means "to stay overnight" or "to lodge." It’s technically a way to talk about sleeping somewhere, but it has zero place in a casual conversation about how to say go to bed in Spanish.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Conversation
To truly sound like you know what you’re doing, try these specific variations based on the vibe of the room:
- The Casual Exit: Use "Me voy a acostar." It’s the most natural, all-purpose phrase.
- The Tired Statement: Use "Me voy a la cama, estoy muerto/a." (I'm going to bed, I'm dead.)
- The Playful Idiom: Use "Voy a planchar la oreja" if you’re in Spain and want to impress the locals with your slang.
- The Collective Command: Use "¡A dormir!" if you’re trying to get a group of people (or kids) to wrap it up for the night.
The key to mastering these phrases isn't just memorizing the words. It's about the "se." Reflexive verbs are the soul of Spanish. Once you get comfortable saying me voy, me acuesto, and me duermo, you’ve crossed the bridge from "student" to "speaker."
Next time you're feeling that 11:00 PM slump in a Spanish-speaking country, don't overthink it. Just pick one of these, give a little wave, and head for the pillow. Your brain will thank you, and your Spanish will sound a lot more authentic for it.