Spanish word of the week: amanecer

This week’s Spanish Word of the Week is amanecer VERB to get light

When it means to get light amanecer is an impersonal verb just like llover. Impersonal verbs have ‘it’ as the subject, but ‘it’ doesn’t refer to anything specific.

En verano amanece muy temprano. In summer it gets light very early.

When used with an adjective amanecer can be used to talk about the weather:

El día amaneció nublado. The day started out cloudy.

The opposite of amanecer is another impersonal verb, anochecer to get dark

Se quedaron hasta que anocheció por completo. They stayed until it was completely dark.

Amanecer also has a personal meaning: to wake up.

Hoy amaneció con fiebre. He woke up with a temperature this morning.

In this meaning it is a less common or more formal alternative for despertarse.

Come back next week for a new word, and expand your Spanish vocabulary!