despertó
/dess-per-TOH/
woke up
When used transitively, despertó means he/she "woke up" someone else.
despertó(Verb (Past Tense))
woke up
?woke someone else up
,awakened
?from sleep
roused
?from a nap or deep thought
📝 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.
💡 Grammar Points
Preterite Tense: Completed Action
Since 'despertó' is in the preterite, it means the action of waking someone up was finished at a specific time in the past (e.g., 'yesterday,' 'at seven').
Stem Change Exception
The base verb 'despertar' changes the 'e' to 'ie' in the present tense ('despierto'), but this change disappears completely in the preterite ('despertó').
❌ Common Pitfalls
Waking Yourself Up vs. Waking Someone Else
Mistake: "Using 'despertó' when you mean 'he/she woke up' (themselves)."
Correction: To say 'He woke up,' you must use the reflexive form: 'Se despertó.' 'Despertó' (without 'se') means 'He/she woke up someone else.'
⭐ Usage Tips
Focus on the Recipient
Use 'despertó' when the subject (He/She/You formal) is the agent, and someone else is the recipient of the waking action.
When referring to feelings or interest, despertó translates to "aroused" or "sparked."
despertó(Verb (Past Tense))
aroused
?a feeling or interest
,sparked
?a memory or controversy
triggered
?an emotion
📝 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.
💡 Grammar Points
Figurative Subject
In this context, the subject ('él/ella/usted') is often an inanimate object, event, or abstract idea (e.g., 'the news,' 'the book') that caused the feeling.
⭐ Usage Tips
Mental Actions
Think of this use as 'bringing to life' a mental state or emotion that was previously dormant or hidden.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: despertó
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'despertó' to mean 'aroused an emotion'?
📚 More Resources
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').