Spanish Phrase
Necesito que me despierten.
Meaning
Literally, 'I need that they wake me up.' It is used to express a personal need for someone else—family, a roommate, a colleague, or a service—to wake you up at a specific time.
When to use
Use this phrase when you are asking another person (or a service) to wake you up, for example before an early meeting, after a night shift, or when you know you’ll oversleep without help.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Necesitoquemedespierten
Necesitar + que + subjuntivo
When expressing a need for someone else to do something, use 'necesitar que' followed by a verb in the present subjunctive.
Pronombre de objeto indirecto (me)
The pronoun 'me' indicates that the action of waking is performed on the speaker.
Conjunción 'que'
'Que' introduces the subordinate clause that requires the subjunctive mood.
Presente de subjuntivo (ellos/ellas/ustedes)
The verb 'despertar' in the third‑person plural present subjunctive is 'despierten' (despierto → -en).
🗨In Conversation
¿A qué hora quieres que te despierten?
What time do you want them to wake you up?
A las siete, por favor.
At seven, please.
✕Common Mistakes
Necesito que me despierto.
After 'necesito que' you must use the subjunctive, not the indicative.
Necesito que me despierte.
Use the plural form 'despierten' only when you expect more than one person; otherwise use the singular 'despierte'.
↔Alternatives
Quiero que me despierten.
I want them to wake me up.
Me gustaría que me despertaran.
I would like them to wake me up.
Necesito que me despierten a las siete.
I need them to wake me up at seven.
Cultural Tip
In many Spanish‑speaking households, it’s common to rely on a family member or roommate to give a morning wake‑up call, especially on weekends. Saying 'Necesito que me despierten' is polite and implies you trust the other person to help you, rather than just setting an alarm. In formal contexts (e.g., a hotel concierge), you might say '¿Podría despertarme a las ocho?' to keep the tone courteous.