se réveiller
The English phrase "waking up" is translated into French as se réveiller.
se réveiller refers to the act of stopping sleeping and becoming conscious.
Which one should you use?
It is important to distinguish between waking up and getting out of bed. While se réveiller means to stop sleeping and become conscious, se lever is used when you mean to physically get out of bed.
How does it change in a sentence?
If you are waking someone else up rather than yourself, you drop the reflexive pronoun and use the transitive form réveiller.
Did you know?
- In French, the word réveil refers to both the abstract process of waking up and the physical alarm clock itself.
- The phrase réveiller les souvenirs uses the verb for waking up to mean stirring up old memories or a forgotten past.
- To describe waking up with a sudden start or jump, French speakers use the specific expression se réveiller en sursaut.
Examples in context
- Il a du mal à se réveiller à l'heure.He has trouble waking up on time.This sentence shows how someone might struggle with the timing of se réveiller.Tatoeba #3586639 by sacredceltic, translation #2097915 by Hybrid
- Se réveiller est l'opposé de s'endormir.Waking up is the opposite of going to sleep.This sentence illustrates that se réveiller is the opposite of falling asleep.Tatoeba #9685937 by otakusan93, translation #479966 by kblakes
- Je me réveille à sept heuresI wake up at seven o'clock
- Nous nous éveillons tôt le matinWe wake up early in the morning
- Ils émergent lentement de leur sommeilThey slowly wake up from their sleep
Example conversation
Lucas and Léa are talking about their morning routines.
- LucasÀ quelle heure tu aimes se réveiller ?What time do you like waking up?
- LéaEn général, je préfère me réveiller tôt.Generally, I prefer waking up early.
- LucasMoi, c'est difficile de se réveiller avant huit heures.For me, waking up before eight o'clock is difficult.
- LéaTu devrais essayer de te réveiller plus tôt, Lucas.You should try waking up earlier, Lucas.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
