Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
How to Say Awake in Spanish: Despierto
Despierto · adjective · dehs-pee-EHR-toh
Awake in Spanish is despierto (adjective) or despertar (verb: to wake up), describing the state of not being asleep.
Despierto is dehs-pee-EHR-toh, with the stress on the third syllable EHR.
Todavía estoy despierto porque no puedo dormir.
I'm still awake because I can't sleep.
Awake in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for awake, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| despierto | awake | dehs-pee-EHR-toh | Default, widely understood |
| desvelado | awake | stayed awake/couldn't sleep |
How Native Speakers Use Despierto
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
State of being
¿Estás despierta o estás dormida?
Are you awake or are you asleep?
Asking about someone's state.
Staying up late
Me mantuve despierto hasta las tres de la mañana.
I stayed awake until three in the morning.
Describing a late night.
Waking someone up
Despierta al niño, que ya es hora de ir al colegio.
Wake the child up, it's time to go to school.
Using the verb despertar as a command.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Despierto
Gender agreement error
Incorrect: Ella está despierto.
Correct: Ella está despierta.
Despierto changes to despierta for feminine subjects.
Confusing ser and estar
Incorrect: Soy despierto. (meaning awake)
Correct: Estoy despierto.
Being awake is a temporary state requiring estar, not ser. However, ser despierto means to be sharp/clever.
Lock in Awake Vocabulary with the Parrot Method
Why word lists alone don't stick
Memorizing a translation feels productive, but most learners forget 70% of what they studied within 48 hours. Vocabulary needs spaced repetition AND real-world exposure to transfer to long-term memory.
See Despierto used by native speakers
Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using despierto in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear Todavía estoy despierto porque no puedo dormir. while watching someone live the moment, connecting meaning, sound, and rhythm at once.
Save, review, repeat, stay consistent
Tap any word to save it. Parrot's spaced-repetition system surfaces it right before you'd forget, no manual flashcard creation. The watch, parrot back, save, review cycle turns recognition into fluency at 2.7x the speed of traditional study.
Common Questions About Awake in Spanish
- How do you say awake in Spanish?
- The adjective awake is despierto/despierta, and it pairs with estar to describe the temporary state of being awake.
- What is the difference between despierto and desvelado?
- Despierto simply means awake, while desvelado implies being unable to sleep or having stayed awake unwillingly through the night.
- How do you say to wake up in Spanish?
- The verb is despertar (or the reflexive despertarse), as in me despierto a las siete (I wake up at seven).