madrugada
/mɐdɾuˈɡadɐ/
Definition
The early hours of the morning, typically between midnight and dawn.
Example
Ela chegou em casa na madrugada, muito cansada.
Show translation
She arrived home in the early hours of the morning, very tired.
Etymology
From the verb *madrugar* ("to rise early"), itself from Old Spanish *madrugar*, derived from Latin *mane* ("morning") via *matūrāre* ("to do something early"). The word entered Portuguese in the medieval period and has been in continuous everyday use since.
Cultural note
*Madrugada* fills a lexical gap that English lacks a single word for — the stretch from roughly midnight to 5 a.m. is distinct in Portuguese from *manhã* (morning proper). This matters culturally: Brazil's vibrant nightlife, Carnival celebrations, and the tradition of "pagode" jam sessions often run deep into the *madrugada*. In Portugal, you'll hear phrases like *nas horas da madrugada* to evoke that particular atmosphere of stillness or revelry before dawn. Don't confuse it with *manhã* — if someone says they came home "de madrugada," they were definitely out very late!