Level A2 (Upper Beginner)
The French Word of the Day is the reflexive verb se réveiller, meaning “to wake up”. We contrast it with se lever, which means “to get up”.
Meaning
Pronunciation with IPA
Example sentences
Present tense conjugation
Meaning
The French reflexive verb se réveiller means “to wake up.” It describes the action of coming out of the sleeping state. It’s often confused with se lever, which is the act of physically getting up. In the non-reflexive form réveiller means “to wake up”.
Pronunciation
Example sentences
This first sentence contrasts se réveiller with se lever (to get up). Vers has several usages including “towards” a place and “around” a time.
En général, je me réveille vers sept heures et je me lève à huit heures.
In general, I wake up around 7am and I get up at 8am.
This second sentence uses se réveiller in the imperative mood, which is used for giving commands. The French use prendre (to take) for “having” meals.
Réveille-toi ! Il est l’heure de prendre le petit-déjeuner !
Wake up! It’s time to have breakfast!
This sentence uses the non-reflexive réveiller + direct object (to wake up, to awaken).
Maman réveille ses enfants tous les jours à six heures et demie.
Mom wakes her kids up at 6:30am ever day.
Present tense conjugation
Se réveiller is a regular ER verb. This means that it’s conjugation pattern in the present tense is the same as parler (to speak).
Je me réveille I wake up
Tu te réveilles You wake up (singular, informal)
Il, elle se réveille He, she wakes up
Nous nous réveillons We wake up
Vous vous réveillez You wake up (plural, formal)
Ils, elles se réveillent They wake up
More usages
Réveiller can also be used in the figurative sense.
- Son discours réveille mon attention. His (or her) speech awakens my interest.
The verb veiller has many usages including to stay awake, to watch over or to look after.
- Je veille jusqu’à une heure du matin. I stay awake until 1am.
- Le médecin veille son patient. The doctor keeps a watch over his patient.
Word origin
The verb réveiller combines the prefix re- with the verb éveiller (to awaken). Éveiller comes from the Latin verb vigilare (to be awake, to watch, to be vigilant).
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