despertó
“despertó” means “woke up” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
woke up, awakened
Also: roused
📝 In Action
Mi madre me despertó a las siete esta mañana.
A1My mother woke me up at seven this morning.
¿Quién despertó al bebé con tanto ruido?
A2Who woke the baby up with so much noise?
Usted despertó a toda la casa con su alarma.
A2You (formal) woke up the whole house with your alarm.
aroused, sparked
Also: triggered
📝 In Action
La película despertó un gran interés en la historia antigua.
B2The movie sparked great interest in ancient history.
Su discurso despertó una fuerte controversia en la prensa.
B2His speech aroused a strong controversy in the press.
El olor a pan recién hecho despertó mi apetito.
B1The smell of freshly baked bread awakened my appetite.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: despertó
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'despertó' to mean 'aroused an emotion'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Latin 'expergefacere,' meaning 'to wake up,' which evolved through Vulgar Latin into 'despertare.' The 'des-' prefix here emphasizes the completion or beginning of the action.
First recorded: Medieval Spanish
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the base verb for 'despertó'?
The base form (infinitive) is 'despertar,' which means 'to wake up.' 'Despertó' is the completed past action form for 'he,' 'she,' or 'you (formal).'
How do I know if 'despertó' means 'woke someone up' or 'sparked an interest'?
Look at the object: If it's a person or animal, it's usually literal waking ('despertó al niño'). If it's an abstract noun like 'interés,' 'duda,' or 'pasión,' it's figurative ('despertó la pasión').