Meaning and behavior
What does despertar mean?
Despertar means to wake. VerbyGo classifies it as an irregular -AR verb. It is non-reflexive.
to wake up; to awaken.
Build from reliable parts
Principal forms
- Infinitive
- despertar
- Gerund
- despertando
- Past participle
- despertado
Verified irregular pattern
How this verb behaves
Its forms differ from a fully regular -ar pattern in the present.
Conjugation guide
Present forms
Present forms
Present
Use the present forms of despertar for current situations, routines and actions that happen regularly.
| Subject | Despertar |
|---|---|
| yo | despierto |
| tú | despiertas |
| él / ella / usted | despierta |
| nosotros / nosotras | despertamos |
| vosotros / vosotras | despertáis |
| ellos / ellas / ustedes | despiertan |
Conjugation guide
Past forms
Past forms
Preterite
Use the preterite when the action of despertar is presented as completed in the past.
| Subject | Despertar |
|---|---|
| yo | desperté |
| tú | despertaste |
| él / ella / usted | despertó |
| nosotros / nosotras | despertamos |
| vosotros / vosotras | despertasteis |
| ellos / ellas / ustedes | despertaron |
Past forms
Imperfect past
Use the imperfect for repeated or ongoing past uses of despertar, or for background information.
| Subject | Despertar |
|---|---|
| yo | despertaba |
| tú | despertabas |
| él / ella / usted | despertaba |
| nosotros / nosotras | despertábamos |
| vosotros / vosotras | despertabais |
| ellos / ellas / ustedes | despertaban |
Conjugation guide
Future and conditional
Future and conditional
Simple future
Use the future forms of despertar for predictions, promises and future statements.
| Subject | Despertar |
|---|---|
| yo | despertaré |
| tú | despertarás |
| él / ella / usted | despertará |
| nosotros / nosotras | despertaremos |
| vosotros / vosotras | despertaréis |
| ellos / ellas / ustedes | despertarán |
Conjugation guide
Subjunctive forms
Subjunctive forms
Present subjunctive
Use these forms when a current wish, reaction, doubt or another trigger requires the subjunctive.
| Subject | Despertar |
|---|---|
| yo | despierte |
| tú | despiertes |
| él / ella / usted | despierte |
| nosotros / nosotras | despertemos |
| vosotros / vosotras | despertéis |
| ellos / ellas / ustedes | despierten |
Conjugation guide
Commands
Commands
Affirmative commands
Choose the affirmative command of despertar that matches the person being addressed.
| Subject | Despertar |
|---|---|
| tú | despierta |
| usted | despierte |
| nosotros / nosotras | despertemos |
| vosotros / vosotras | despertad |
| ustedes | despierten |
Commands
Negative commands
Use no with the matching command form of despertar.
| Subject | Despertar |
|---|---|
| tú | no despiertes |
| usted | no despierte |
| nosotros / nosotras | no despertemos |
| vosotros / vosotras | no despertéis |
| ustedes | no despierten |
Verified context
Examples with despertar
No te desperté, ¿o sí?
I didn't wake you, did I?
Tatoeba example · CC BY 2.0 FR¿Por qué no me despertaste?
Why didn't you wake me up?
Tatoeba example · CC BY 2.0 FR¿Me despertarás a las siete?
Will you wake me at seven?
Tatoeba example · CC BY 2.0 FR
Quick answers
Despertar FAQ
What does despertar mean?
Despertar means to wake.
Is despertar regular or irregular?
Despertar is a irregular -AR verb.
What is the gerund of despertar?
The gerund of despertar is despertando.
What is the past participle of despertar?
The past participle of despertar is despertado.
How is despertar conjugated in the present?
The verified public subject set is despierto, despiertas, despierta, despertamos, despiertan.
How is despertar conjugated in the preterite?
The verified public subject set is desperté, despertaste, despertó, despertamos, despertaron.
Created by Alejandro Ruiz, an experienced Spanish tutor.