“Desvelado” (masculine), or “desvelada” (feminine), is an adjective meaning sleepless, or unable to sleep.
The word “desvelado” doesn’t have an exact equivalent in English. English does have words like “sleepless” and “restless”, but “desvelado” has a broader meaning.
For example, you could use it to express how you’re losing sleep due to stress or noise:
- Estaba desvelado por el ruido. – I couldn’t sleep because of the noise.
It can also refer to going a long period without sleeping, for example:
- Llevaba días desvelado. – I had gone days without sleeping.
Example Sentences
Beginner
Here are some example sentences at beginner (A1/A2) level:
Estoy desvelado porque tengo miedo a la oscuridad.
I can’t sleep because I’m afraid of the dark.
Mi hermanito está desvelado porque le duele la barriga.
My little brother can’t sleep because his stomach hurts.
Estaba desvelado por el ruido de la tormenta.
I couldn’t sleep because of the noise of the storm.
Intermediate
Here are some example sentences at intermediate (B1/B2) level:
Después de ver una película de terror, estuve desvelado toda la noche.
After watching a horror movie, I couldn’t sleep all night.
Nos mantuvieron desvelados con su música a todo volumen hasta altas horas de la madrugada.
They kept us awake with their loud music until the early hours of the morning.
Después de haber estudiado toda la noche para el examen, me sentía desvelada pero preparado.
After studying all night for the exam, I felt sleepless but prepared.
Advanced
Here are some example sentences at advanced (C1/C2) level:
A pesar de sus esfuerzos por relajarse, la preocupación constante lo mantenía desvelado durante las noches.
Despite his efforts to relax, constant worry kept him sleepless during the nights.
La controversia política en el país ha dejado a muchos ciudadanos desvelados por el futuro de la democracia.
The political controversy in the country has left many citizens sleepless about the future of democracy.
Después de la pérdida de su ser querido, se encontraba desvelado por las preguntas sin respuesta y el vacío en su corazón.
After the loss of her loved one, she found herself sleepless due to unanswered questions and the void in her heart.
