madrugada
/ma.ðɾu.ˈɣa.ða/
Definition
The early hours of the morning, typically between midnight and sunrise. Often used to describe a very late night or the time just before dawn.
Example
El bebé lloró a las tres de la madrugada.
Show translation
The baby cried at three in the morning.
Etymology
From the verb *madrugar* ("to rise early"), derived from Latin *maturicare* ("to hasten, to do early"), itself from *maturus* ("ripe, timely") — the same root that gives English "mature." The word essentially captures the idea of time that is "ripe before the day has begun."
Cultural note
Spanish-speaking cultures are famously night-oriented — parties, dinners, and social gatherings routinely stretch into *la madrugada*. In Spain, clubs don't fill up until 2 a.m., so phrases like *"salir de madrugada"* (to go out in the early hours) are entirely unremarkable. The word is also beloved by poets and songwriters as a near-synonym for a liminal, almost magical hour. Note: English learners sometimes confuse *madrugada* with *mañana* (morning/tomorrow) — *madrugada* is strictly the pre-dawn stretch, not the broader morning.