Aufzuwachen

Aufzuwachen is the infinitive with zu of the German verb aufwachen. It denotes the act of waking up from sleep and becoming awake. The prefix auf- signals the transition from sleep to wakefulness, and the verb is separable in its finite forms (ich wache auf, du wachst auf).

The form aufzuwachen is used primarily in subordinate clauses with zu-infinitives, after modal verbs or verbs of perception, intention, or planning. It is not a separate verb with its own independent meaning, but a construction used to express an intended or anticipated waking action. Examples: Ich hoffe, rechtzeitig aufzuwachen. Er versucht, aufzuwachen. Sie plant, aufzuwachen, bevor der Wecker klingelt.

In everyday language the simple verb aufwachen is common in main clauses (Ich wache jeden Morgen um sieben Uhr auf). The noun form das Aufwachen refers to the act or process of waking up, as in Das Aufwachen fiel ihm schwer. The zu-infinitive aufzuwachen is less frequent in casual speech and more likely to appear in written or formal contexts, especially when describing plans, goals, or sequences.

Semantically, aufwachen focuses on the transition from sleep to wakefulness, while other expressions like wach werden or aufstehen emphasize related but distinct steps (becoming awake versus getting out of bed).