Spanish word

aguardar

Pronunciation

IPA/aɣwaɾˈðaɾ/

Meaning

  • verbwait

Example

¿Puedes aguardar un momento?

Can you wait a moment?

Illustration for aguardar (wait)

More examples

Por favor, aguardar instrucciones antes de proceder.

Please wait for instructions before proceeding.

Core concept

Maintaining attention in one spot until an outcome is confirmed.

Common phrases

  • aguardar instrucciones

    wait for instructions

  • aguardar confirmación

    wait for confirmation

  • aguardar noticias

    wait for news

Similar words

esperar: Waiting while expecting or hoping for a particular outcome.
quedarse: Remaining in the same place, staying put without moving away.
hacer fila: Standing in line to wait for one's turn.

Definition in Spanish

Esperar pacientemente que ocurra o se confirme algo, manteniendo atención sin actuar.

Word origin

Formed from a- + guardar, tracing through Old French garder to Germanic *ward- 'guard', with a semantic shift from 'guard/watch' to 'wait/expect'.

Usage tips

  • In conversation esperar is much more common, as aguardar often sounds deliberate, polite, or official.

Other meanings

  • expectverb

Opposites

  • apresurarsehurryverb

Word lists with this word