despierto
“despierto” means “awake” in Spanish. It has 3 different meanings depending on context:
awakeAlso: alert
📝 In Action
El bebé ya está despierto, quiere jugar.
A1The baby is already awake, he wants to play.
Estuve despierto toda la noche estudiando para el examen.
A2I was awake all night studying for the exam.
Word Connections
clever, sharpAlso: shrewd
📝 In Action
Es un hombre de negocios muy despierto.
B1He is a very sharp businessman.
La niña es muy despierta y aprende rápido.
B2The girl is very clever and learns quickly.
Word Connections
I wake up, I wakeAlso: I rouse
📝 In Action
Yo despierto a mi hermano a las siete de la mañana.
A1I wake my brother up at seven in the morning.
¿A qué hora despierto mañana?
A1What time do I wake up tomorrow?
Word Connections
Indicative
Present
Imperfect
Preterite
Subjunctive
Present Subjunctive
Imperfect Subjunctive
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: despierto
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'despierto' to mean 'clever' or 'sharp'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family
📚 Etymology
The word 'despierto' comes from the verb 'despertar,' which evolved from the Latin verb *expercitare*, meaning 'to rouse' or 'to awaken.' The prefix 'des-' reinforces the idea of undoing sleep or becoming active.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
💡 Master Spanish
Take your Spanish to the next level. Read 200+ illustrated and narrated Spanish stories tailored to your level with the Inklingo app!
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'despierto' and 'despertado'?
'Despierto' is the simple adjective meaning 'awake' (e.g., 'El perro está despierto'). 'Despertado' is the past participle of the verb 'despertar' used in perfect tenses, usually paired with 'haber' (e.g., 'Hemos despertado tarde' - We have woken up late).
How do I say 'I woke up' using 'despertar'?
You use the reflexive form in the past tense: 'Me desperté.' (I woke up). If you were waking someone else, you would say 'Yo desperté a Juan.' (I woke up Juan).