Spanish word

despertar

Pronunciation

IPA/despeɾˈtaɾ/

Meaning

  • verbwake up

Example

Me despierto a las siete.

I wake up at seven.

Illustration for despertar (wake up)

More examples

Hoy me desperté tarde.

Today I woke up late.

Core concept

Closed eyes becoming alert to sound or light.

Common phrases

  • me despierto temprano

    wake up early

  • me despierto con el despertador

    wake up to the alarm clock

Similar words

despertarse: Wake up by oneself and become alert.
levantarse: Get out of bed and rise to a standing position.
espabilarse: Shake off drowsiness and become mentally alert.

Definition in Spanish

Pasar del sueño a la vigilia; por extensión, causar la aparición o activación de sentimientos, interés o recuerdos.

Word origin

The verb traces back to Latin expergiscĕre via medieval espertar, with the Latin root meaning 'wake' and giving both the literal and figurative senses.

Usage tips

  • Many present indicative forms show e→ie stem change (despierto, despiertas) and as reflexive despertarse it is intransitive, meaning the subject wakes up rather than someone else being woken.

Other meanings

  • wakeverb
  • awakenverb

Opposites

  • dormirsleepverb
  • adormecerput to sleepverb

Related words

Word lists with this word