madrugar

Senses

1. 1.

   to wake up early; to get up early

   to rise from bed before dawn or in the early morning hours

2. 2.

   to start something early

   to begin or commence an activity or project ahead of schedule

Examples

• "Me madrugo todos los días para ir al trabajo."

  I wake up early every day to go to work.

• "Si madrugamos mañana, podemos llegar antes de las ocho."

  If we get up early tomorrow, we can arrive before eight.

• "No me gusta madrugar los domingos."

  I don't like waking up early on Sundays.

Usage

Common in everyday speech; often used reflexively (madrugar + conjugation without reflexive pronoun is also valid). Conjugates regularly. The noun form "madrugada" (dawn/early morning) is closely related. Spanish speakers sometimes use the expression "al que madruga, Dios lo ayuda" (God helps those who rise early).