levantarse
/lebanˈtaɾse/
To get up in Spanish is levantarse.
levantarse is used to mean 'to get up'. It is frequently used with de la cama to specify getting out of bed. In conjugated forms, you might use Me levanto for 'I get up', Te levantas for 'You get up' or Se levanta for 'He/She gets up'.
Which one should you use?
The reflexive form levantarse is used for a person getting up from bed or a chair, whereas the non-reflexive levantar means to lift an object.
How does it change in a sentence?
The reflexive pronoun 'se' remains the same for third-person singular (he/she/it/you formal) conjugation.
How do you pronounce it?
/lebanˈtaɾse/
Did you know?
- In some Spanish-speaking cultures, levantar can be used colloquially to mean 'picking up' or flirting with someone to start a romantic encounter.
- In a legal or official context, levantar un acta does not mean to get up, but rather 'to draw up' or 'to record' a formal report or minutes of a meeting.
- The word 'levantar' is used in many Spanish-speaking countries to mean 'to build' or 'to set up', such as when 'levantar una pared' means 'to build a wall'.
Examples in context
- Es hora de levantarse.It's time to get up.This example shows how to express that it is time to get up using levantarse.Tatoeba #2720451 by Shishir, translation #442011 by CK
- Es bueno levantarse temprano.It is good to get up early.This sentence uses levantarse to say that getting up early is a good thing.Tatoeba #916787 by Shishir, translation #274053 by CK
- Él solía levantarse temprano.He used to get up early.This sentence uses levantarse to describe a past habit of getting up early.Tatoeba #1354873 by marcelostockle, translation #293537 by CK
- Debes levantarte temprano para llegar a tiempo al trabajo.You should get up early to arrive on time to work.
- No puedo pararme temprano los fines de semana.I can't get up early on weekends.
- Me encanta madrugar y disfrutar del amanecer.I love getting up early and enjoying the sunrise.
- Me costó trabajo pararme de la cama cuando sonó el despertador.I had a hard time getting up from the bed when the alarm went off.
- Tras una larga noche, decidió incorporarse y comenzar el día.After a long night, he decided to get up and start the day.
- 27 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
María is waking up Alejandro in the morning.
- MaríaAlejandro, ya es hora de levantarse.Alejandro, it is time to get up now.
- AlejandroTengo sueño, no quiero levantarse ahora.I'm sleepy, I don't want to get up now.
- MaríaTienes que levantarse para ir al trabajo.You have to get up to go to work.
- AlejandroEstá bien, voy a levantarse ya.Alright, I'm going to get up now.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry levantarse, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
