French word

réveiller

Pronunciation

IPA/ʁeveje/

Meaning

  • verbwake

Example

Je vais réveiller les enfants à sept heures.

I will wake the children at seven o'clock.

Illustration for réveiller (wake)

More examples

Le parfum peut réveiller les sens.

The perfume can awaken the senses.

Core concept

Something dormant is stirred until it becomes awake, responsive, or conscious again.

Common phrases

  • réveiller les enfants

    wake the children

  • réveiller des souvenirs

    awaken memories

  • réveiller la curiosité

    awaken curiosity

Similar words

se réveiller: Become awake without outside help.
dormir: Be asleep.
s'endormir: Begin to sleep.
endormir: Make someone fall asleep.

Definition in French

Mettre fin au sommeil d'une personne ou, au sens figuré, susciter chez quelqu'un une prise de conscience.

Word origin

Réveiller is the French development of Old French reveillier, formed with re- around a verb descended from Latin vigilare and later used for mental awakening as well as sleep.

Usage tips

  • The reflexive form se réveiller means to wake up, whereas réveiller without se normally means to wake another person or stir awareness.

Opposites

Related words

  • réveilawakeningnoun
  • réveilléawakeadjective

Word lists with this word