despierto
“despierto” means “awake” in Spanish. It has 3 different meanings depending on context:
awake
Also: 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.
clever, sharp
Also: 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.
I wake up, I wake
Also: 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?
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
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✏️ 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)
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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).