despierta
/des-pyair-tah/
awake
The child is awake (despierta), not sleeping.
despierta(Adjective)
awake
?not sleeping
alert
?mentally active
,clever
?sharp-witted, quick to learn
📝 In Action
La bebé no está dormida, está despierta.
A1The baby is not asleep, she is awake.
Mi hermana es muy despierta para los negocios.
B1My sister is very sharp/clever when it comes to business.
La ciudad está despierta a estas horas.
B2The city is awake/lively at these hours.
💡 Grammar Points
Gender Match
Since this word describes people or things, you must make sure it matches the gender of the noun. 'Despierta' is used for feminine nouns; 'despierto' is used for masculine nouns.
⭐ Usage Tips
Mental Alertness
Using 'es despierta' means she is intelligent or mentally quick. Using 'está despierta' usually means she is currently not sleeping.
The dog wakes up (despierta) from its rest.
despierta(Verb)
wakes up
?he/she/it/you formal
is waking (up)
?in the process of waking
📝 In Action
Ella se despierta a las siete de la mañana.
A1She wakes up at seven in the morning.
El fuerte ruido despierta a los vecinos.
A2The loud noise wakes up the neighbors.
Usted nunca despierta de mal humor.
A2You (formal) never wake up in a bad mood.
💡 Grammar Points
Stem-Changing Verb
The verb 'despertar' is irregular because the 'e' in the middle changes to 'ie' (like 'despierta') when stressed. This happens for most pronouns, except 'nosotros' (we) and 'vosotros' (you plural informal), which keep the original 'e' (despertamos).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using the Reflexive 'Se'
Mistake: "Using 'Mi mamá despierta tarde.' (Incorrect, means: My mom wakes someone else up late.)"
Correction: To say 'she wakes herself up,' you must use the reflexive pronoun 'se': 'Mi mamá **se** despierta tarde.' This is crucial for self-waking actions.
The informal command to wake up (¡Despierta!) is given.
despierta(Verb)
Wake up!
?informal command (tú)
Pay attention!
?telling someone to be alert
📝 In Action
¡Despierta, que llegamos tarde al bus!
A1Wake up! We're going to be late for the bus!
¡Despierta! Tienes que concentrarte en la clase.
B1Pay attention! You have to concentrate in class.
💡 Grammar Points
Affirmative Tú Command
When you want to give a friendly or informal command to 'tú' (a friend or relative), the verb form you use is usually the same as the 'él/ella/usted' present tense form. That's why 'despierta' serves two roles!
⭐ Usage Tips
Adding the 'te' (Reflexive Command)
When telling someone to wake themselves up, you must attach the 'te' pronoun to the end of the command: '¡Despiértate!' (Note the accent mark that appears when the pronoun is added.)
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: despierta
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'despierta' as an adjective (a descriptive state)?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if 'despierta' is a verb or an adjective?
If it follows a form of the verb 'estar' (like 'está despierta'), it is an adjective describing a state. If it is used without 'estar,' or appears at the beginning of a sentence with an exclamation mark, it is usually the verb form (either the command or the present tense action).
Can I use 'despierta' to mean 'clever' or 'sharp'?
Yes! This is a very common and natural way to compliment a girl or woman on being quick-witted, observant, or good at business or strategy. It implies mental alertness.