despertar
/des-per-TAR/
to wake (someone) up
When you wake someone else up, you use despertar (to wake someone up).
despertar(Verb)
to wake (someone) up
?causing someone else to awaken
to rouse
?formal or literary
📝 In Action
Mi alarma me despierta a las seis de la mañana.
A1My alarm wakes me up at six in the morning.
El ruido despertó a todos los vecinos.
A2The noise woke up all the neighbors.
💡 Grammar Points
Stem-Changing Verb (e → ie)
In the present tense, the 'e' in the middle of the verb changes to 'ie' for all forms except 'nosotros' (we) and 'vosotros' (you plural, informal).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Forgetting the Stem Change
Mistake: "Yo desperto, tú despertas."
Correction: Yo despierto, tú despiertas. Remember that 'e' becomes 'ie' when stressed.
⭐ Usage Tips
Using the Personal 'A'
When you wake up a specific person, you must use the preposition 'a' before their name or title: 'Despierto a Juan.'
The reflexive form of despertar means to wake up (oneself).
despertar(Verb)
to wake up
?to awaken (oneself)
to get up
?often used interchangeably with 'levantarse'
📝 In Action
Me despierto a las siete sin alarma.
A1I wake up at seven without an alarm.
¿A qué hora se despertaron ustedes hoy?
A2What time did you all wake up today?
💡 Grammar Points
Reflexive vs. Non-Reflexive
Use 'despertar' (without 'se') when you wake someone else up. Use 'despertarse' (with 'me, te, se,' etc.) when you wake yourself up.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Missing the Reflexive Pronoun
Mistake: "Yo despierto tarde. (This means 'I wake [someone] up late.')"
Correction: Yo *me* despierto tarde. (This correctly means 'I wake up late.')
⭐ Usage Tips
Pronoun Placement in Commands
When giving a positive command (imperative), the reflexive pronoun attaches to the end of the verb, like in '¡Despiértate!' (Wake up!).
Despertar can also mean to arouse or awaken feelings or passions.
despertar(Verb)
to arouse
?feelings, passions
,to spark
?interest, curiosity
to trigger
?memories or thoughts
📝 In Action
La música despertó una vieja nostalgia en ella.
B1The music awoke an old nostalgia in her.
Su discurso despertó gran controversia en la prensa.
B2His speech sparked great controversy in the press.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: despertar
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'despertar' to mean 'I wake up' (referring to myself)?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'despertar' and 'levantarse'?
'Despertar' (or 'despertarse') means to transition from being asleep to being awake. 'Levantarse' means to transition from lying down (in bed) to standing up. You can wake up (despertarse) and stay in bed for an hour before getting up (levantarse).
Is 'despertar' a difficult verb to conjugate?
It's considered slightly irregular because the vowel 'e' changes to 'ie' in many forms (like 'despierto'), but it's very predictable once you learn the pattern. The change only happens when that syllable is stressed.