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"Wake" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "despertar", and "wake up" is a phrase which is often translated as "despiértate". Learn more about the difference between "wake" and "wake up" below.
wake(
weyk
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
1. (to wake up)
a. despertar
Can you turn down the music, please? You're going to wake the baby!¿Puedes bajar el volumen de la música, por favor? ¡Vas a despertar al bebé!
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
2. (to wake up)
a. despertarse
I couldn't remember anything when I woke, but the doctor told me that the surgery went fine.No podía recordar nada cuando me desperté, pero el doctor me dijo que todo salió bien con la operación.
b. despertar
The little girl woke from a nightmare and went running to her parents' room.La niñita despertó de una pesadilla y fue corriendo al cuarto de sus papás.
A noun is a word referring to a person, animal, place, thing, feeling, or idea (e.g., man, dog, house).
3. (vigil)
a. el velatorio (M)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
A lot of people came to my father's wake, but only a few were at the funeral.Mucha gente vino al velatorio de mi padre, pero solo unos pocos estuvieron presentes en el funeral.
b. el velorio (M) (Latin America)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
Regionalism used in Latin America: all the countries in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Does not include Spain.
I'm sorry for your loss. What time will the wake be?Te acompaño en el sentimiento. ¿A qué hora será el velorio?
4. (nautical)
a. la estela (F)
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
The ship left a fine wake behind it as we sailed calmly across the sea.El barco dejaba una bella estela tras de sí mientras navegábamos tranquilamente por el mar.
5. (aftermath)
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
In the wake of the attack, many people were desperately searching for missing family members.Tras el ataque, muchos buscaban desesperadamente a sus familiares desaparecidos.
Many people lost their home in the wake of the financial crisis.Muchos perdieron la vivienda a raíz de la crisis económica.
wake up(
weyk
uhp
)A phrase is a group of words commonly used together (e.g., once upon a time).
a. despiértate (informal) (singular)
A word or phrase used to refer to the second person informal “tú” by their conjugation or implied context (e.g., How are you?).
A word or phrase that is singular (e.g., el gato).
Wake up! You'll be late for school.¡Despiértate! Vas a llegar tarde a clase.
b. despiértese (formal) (singular)
A word or phrase used to refer to the second person formal “usted” by their conjugation or implied context (e.g., usted).
A word or phrase that is singular (e.g., el gato).
Wake up, sir! I think this is your stop.¡Despiértese, señor! Creo que esta es su parada.
c. despabílate (informal) (singular)
A word or phrase used to refer to the second person informal “tú” by their conjugation or implied context (e.g., How are you?).
A word or phrase that is singular (e.g., el gato).
Wake up! It's time for us to leave!¡Despabílate! ¡Es hora de irnos!
d. despabílese (formal) (singular)
A word or phrase used to refer to the second person formal “usted” by their conjugation or implied context (e.g., usted).
A word or phrase that is singular (e.g., el gato).
Wake up! Didn't you hear your alarm clock?¡Despabílese! ¿No escuchó el despertador?
a. despiértense (plural)
A word or phrase that is plural (e.g., los libros).
Wake up, kids! We need to leave for the airport soon.¡Despiértense, niños! Tenemos que salir para el aeropuerto pronto.
b. despabílense (plural)
A word or phrase that is plural (e.g., los libros).
Wake up, kids! Come have breakfast.¡Despabílense, chicos! Vengan a desayunar.
An intransitive verb phrase is a phrase that combines a verb with a preposition or other particle and does not require a direct object (e.g., Everybody please stand up.).
b. despabilarse
I'm going to try to wake up at five o'clock tomorrow.Mañana voy a tratar de despabilarme a las cinco.
4. (figurative) (to become aware)
A phrase used as a figure of speech or a word that is symbolic in meaning; metaphorical (e.g., carrot, bean).
A transitive verb phrase is a phrase that combines a verb with a preposition or other particle and requires a direct object (e.g., take out the trash.).
