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desvelar

des-be-LAR/desβeˈlaɾ/

to reveal, to unveil

Also: to uncover
VerbB1regular ar
A hand pulling back a heavy red velvet curtain to show a glowing treasure chest.
gerunddesvelando
past Participledesvelado
infinitivedesvelar

📝 In Action

El autor va a desvelar su nueva novela esta tarde.

A2

The author is going to reveal his new novel this afternoon.

La policía desveló el misterio del robo.

B1

The police uncovered the mystery of the robbery.

Al desvelar la placa, todos aplaudieron.

B2

When the plaque was unveiled, everyone cheered.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • desvelar un secreto – to reveal a secret
  • desvelar un misterio – to uncover a mystery
  • desvelar una estatua – to unveil a statue

to keep awake, to lose sleep

VerbB2regular ar
A person sitting up in bed with wide eyes while a bright moon shines through the window.
gerunddesvelando
past Participledesvelado
infinitivedesvelar

📝 In Action

El café me desveló y no pude dormir.

B1

The coffee kept me awake and I couldn't sleep.

Me desvelé anoche pensando en el examen.

B2

I stayed awake last night thinking about the exam.

Su llanto desveló a toda la casa.

B2

His crying kept the whole house awake.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • quitar el sueño (to take away sleep)

Antonyms

  • adormecer (to make sleepy)
  • dormir (to sleep)

Common Collocations

  • estar desvelado – to be wide awake / unable to sleep
  • pasarse la noche desvelado – to spend the night unable to sleep

🔄 Conjugations

subjunctive

imperfect

ellos/ellas/ustedesdesvelaran
yodesvelara
túdesvelaras
vosotrosdesvelarais
nosotrosdesveláramos
él/ella/usteddesvelara

present

ellos/ellas/ustedesdesvelen
yodesvele
túdesveles
vosotrosdesveléis
nosotrosdesvelemos
él/ella/usteddesvele

indicative

preterite

ellos/ellas/ustedesdesvelaron
yodesvelé
túdesvelaste
vosotrosdesvelasteis
nosotrosdesvelamos
él/ella/usteddesveló

imperfect

ellos/ellas/ustedesdesvelaban
yodesvelaba
túdesvelabas
vosotrosdesvelabais
nosotrosdesvelábamos
él/ella/usteddesvelaba

present

ellos/ellas/ustedesdesvelan
yodesvelo
túdesvelas
vosotrosdesveláis
nosotrosdesvelamos
él/ella/usteddesvela
View All Tenses & Moods →

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "desvelar" in Spanish:

to reveal→to uncover→to unveil→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: desvelar

Question 1 of 3

If someone 'desveló un secreto', what did they do?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
desvelo(sleeplessness / care) — Noun
desvelado(sleepless / wide awake) — Adjective
vela(vigil / candle) — Noun
velar(to watch over / stay awake) — Verb
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

From the Spanish prefix 'des-' (indicating removal) and 'velo' (veil), or 'vela' (watchfulness/sleep lack). It shares roots with the Latin 'evigilare' (to wake up).

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

Portuguese: desvelarItalian: svelare

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between 'desvelar' and 'revelar'?

They are often interchangeable for 'revealing' secrets. However, 'revelar' is used for developing photographs, while 'desvelar' is used for staying awake or losing sleep.

Can 'desvelar' be used for a surprise party?

Yes! You can 'desvelar la sorpresa' (reveal the surprise) when the guest of honor arrives.

Is 'desvelar' irregular in any tense?

No, it follows the standard pattern for verbs ending in -ar.