Spanish word of the day: Madrugar

What does madrugar mean?

Madrugar (verb) — to get up early in the morning. Normally used if you wake up before 8am.

Today’s word is all about a habit that some people embrace with energy, while others try to avoid at all costs. It’s linked to productivity, discipline, and sometimes even sacrifice.

Example sentences with madrugar

• Siempre madrugo los lunes para empezar bien la semana.

  🛏️ (I always wake up early on Mondays to start the week off right.)

• Ayer madrugué para estudiar antes del examen.

  ✍️ (Yesterday I woke up early to study before the exam.)

• Mañana madrugaré para ver el amanecer en la playa.
  🌅 (Tomorrow I will wake up early to watch the sunrise on the beach.)

Confused about how to conjugate madrugar ?
Our conjugation tables can help.

Madrugar in context

"Madrugar" isn't just about waking up early – it's a cultural touchstone in Spanish-speaking countries. You'll hear it in morning greetings, work complaints, and travel plans. "Tengo que madrugar mañana" is the battle cry of the productive, while "No soy de madrugar" is the anthem of night owls. It's perfect for describing early starts but overkill for regular wake-ups (stick with "despertar" for those).

On the other hand, there’s a traditional Spanish saying that goes "No por mucho madrugar amanece más temprano" (Even if you wake up early, the sun won’t rise earlier). Use it casually with friends or colleagues, but maybe not in your formal business emails. In essence, "madrugar" captures that love-hate relationship with early mornings that's universal, yet uniquely Spanish.