levantarme
/leh-vahn-TAR-meh/
to get up
Visualizing 'to get up' (rising from bed).
levantarme(Verb)
to get up
?rising from bed
,to stand up
?rising from a chair
to rise
?general physical ascent
📝 In Action
Necesito levantarme a las seis para tomar el tren.
A1I need to get up at six to catch the train.
No puedo levantarme, la silla es muy baja.
A2I can't stand up; the chair is very low.
Quiero levantarme y estirar las piernas un poco.
A1I want to get up and stretch my legs a little.
💡 Grammar Points
The attached 'me'
The 'me' at the end tells you that I am doing the action to myself. The base verb is 'levantar' (to lift something else), but 'levantarme' is 'to lift myself' (to get up).
When to attach the pronoun
The pronoun 'me' is attached to the end of the verb when the verb is in the infinitive (like here) or the affirmative command form: '¡Levántate!' (Get up!).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Forgetting the 'me'
Mistake: "Yo necesito levantar mi cama."
Correction: Yo necesito levantarme. If you say 'levantar,' it means you are lifting something else (like a box or a blanket), not yourself.
⭐ Usage Tips
Daily Routine Key Word
Use this word constantly when talking about your morning schedule: 'Me lavo los dientes y luego voy a levantarme.' (I brush my teeth and then I'm going to get up.)
Visualizing 'to recover' (from an illness or setback).
levantarme(Verb)
to recover
?from an illness or setback
,to bounce back
?from financial or emotional difficulty
to rise up
?in a metaphorical sense
📝 In Action
Después de la crisis, fue difícil levantarme económicamente.
B1After the crisis, it was difficult to recover economically.
Si caigo, siempre encuentro la fuerza para levantarme.
B2If I fall, I always find the strength to bounce back.
💡 Grammar Points
Figurative Use
This meaning is often used with phrases describing difficulty, like 'una caída' (a fall) or 'una enfermedad' (an illness), implying a return to a stable state.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
preterite
present
imperfect
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: levantarme
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'levantarme' in the sense of 'to recover'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is it sometimes 'me levanto' and sometimes 'levantarme'?
'Me levanto' is the conjugated form used when 'I' am the subject doing the action (I get up). 'Levantarme' is the infinitive form, usually used after another verb, like 'Necesito levantarme' (I need to get up) or 'Quiero levantarme' (I want to get up).
Is 'levantarme' the same as 'despertarme'?
No. 'Despertarme' means 'to wake up' (open your eyes). 'Levantarme' means 'to get up' (physically leave the bed). You can wake up without getting up, but you must wake up before you can get up!