réveilles

Réveilles is the plural form of réveil, a French noun with several related senses. In ordinary usage, un réveil denotes an alarm clock or any device that wakes someone up, and the plural réveils can refer to multiple clocks or multiple wake-up events.

The sense of réveil can also refer to the act or moment of waking, as in le réveil matinal. In figurative use, réveil denotes awakening or the revival of awareness, interest, or a movement; the plural réveilles may describe successive awakenings, though this figurative use is less common.

Etymology: réveil comes from Old French reveil, from re- + veille, related to Latin vigilia (watch). The term is related to but distinct from veille (evening vigil) and réveillon (a festive vigil or feast).

Usage notes: In practice, the most common plural refers to more than one alarm clock: j'ai deux réveils; j'ai mis mes réveils en marche. For awakenings beyond clocks, speakers often use réveil in the singular or rephrase to avoid ambiguity.

See also: réveillon, réveiller, veille, éveil.