recordar
/rekoɾˈdaɾ/
The English phrase "wake up" can be translated into Spanish as despertar. If unsure, use recordar.
Meaning: to (become) awake (verb)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| recordar | /rekoɾˈdaɾ/ |
| despertar | /despeɾˈtaɾ/ |
The phrase refers to the act of becoming awake.
Which one should you use?
It is important to note that recordar actually means "to remember", rather than "to wake up".
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico, ¡Despiértate! is a commonly used informal form.
How does it change in a sentence?
The way you use the verb depends on whether you are waking yourself or someone else. Use the reflexive form despertarse to say you wake up yourself. Use the non-reflexive form despertar when you are waking someone else up, specifically using the structure despertar a [alguien] to indicate the person being woken.
How do you pronounce it?
/rekoɾˈdaɾ/
Did you know?
- The verb recordar is actually a distant relative of the English word 'record', because both share an ancestral connection to the Latin word for 'heart'.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, instead of saying ¡Despiértate!, people might use the phrase ¡Arriba! to tell someone to get out of bed.
- While despertar means 'to wake up', the related word despierto can also describe someone who is 'alert' or 'clever' in a general sense.
Examples in context
- No pude despertar a Tom.I couldn't get Tom to wake up.This sentence shows how to use despertar when referring to waking someone else.Tatoeba #2857530 by Besatnias, translation #2308230 by CK
- Debo despertarme a las 6:30.I have to wake up at 6:30.This sentence demonstrates the reflexive use of despertar for waking oneself up.Tatoeba #4398387 by bax_je, translation #4398722 by XenoKat
- Suelo despertarme a las seis.I usually wake up at 6.Tatoeba #1784856 by Shishir, translation #2658402 by WestofEden
- Despiértate tempranoWake up early
- ¿Podrías despertarte temprano?Could you wake up early?
- 25 more sentences on Tatoeba
Sources
- Wiktionary, “wake up” translations and entries recordar, despertar, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries despertar, recordar, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
