madrugada
early morning hours; dawn; wee hours
Intermediate Noun Feminine
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Pronunciation
/mɐ.dɾu.ˈɡa.dɐ/
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Cultural Note
Portuguese has a dedicated word for the period roughly from midnight to sunrise, which English lacks as a single term. 'Madrugada' is essential to understanding Brazilian social life, where parties, especially on weekends, regularly extend into these hours. The verb 'madrugar' means to get up very early.
📝 Example Sentences
A festa durou até a madrugada.
The party lasted until the early morning hours.
Acordei de madrugada com saudade de você.
I woke up in the wee hours missing you.
Na madrugada de Ano Novo, a praia ainda estava cheia.
In the early hours of New Year's, the beach was still crowded.