Spanish word

esperar

Pronunciation

IPA/espeˈɾaɾ/

Meaning

  • verbwait

Example

Por favor, espera aquí un momento.

Please wait here for a moment.

Illustration for esperar (wait)

More examples

Normalmente tengo que esperar el autobús veinte minutos.

Normally I have to wait for the bus for twenty minutes.

Core concept

A person sitting on a bench watching the horizon for a friend to appear.

Common phrases

  • esperar un momento

    wait a moment

  • esperar el autobús

    wait for the bus

  • esperar a alguien

    wait for someone

Similar words

quedarse: Remains stationary in one place without moving.
hacer cola: Stands in line and waits for a turn.
aguardar: Waits in formal or written contexts until something happens.

Definition in Spanish

Desear o anticipar que algo suceda; también emplearse para indicar que se permanece hasta la llegada de alguien o algo.

Word origin

From Latin sperare 'to hope', adopted into Spanish through Romance evolution so the verb keeps a core sense of desire or anticipation and also denotes staying in place until arrival.

Usage tips

  • When waiting for a person, Spanish commonly uses esperar a alguien, so include the preposition a before a human direct object rather than omitting it as in English.

Other meanings

  • expectverb
  • hopeverb

Opposites

  • apresurarsehurryverb
  • precipitarserushverb

Related words

Word lists with this word