Spanish Conversation · Level 18
90 words
Spanish word
paciencia
Pronunciation
IPA/paˈθjenθja/
Meaning
- feminine nounpatience
Example
Ten paciencia, por favor.
Please have patience.
More examples
En el servicio al cliente hay que tener paciencia.
You have to be patient in customer service.
Core concept
Ability to endure discomfort or waiting without complaint.
Common phrases
tener paciencia
be patient
tener paciencia con alguien
be patient with someone
Similar words
tolerancia: Willing acceptance of unpleasant or unwanted situations.
aguante: Stamina to endure pain, fatigue, or short-term hardship.
resistencia: Long-term capacity to withstand hardship or sustained burden.
calma: Settled, unhurried state of mind free from panic.
Definition in Spanish
Capacidad para soportar molestias, esperas o dificultades sin quejarse.
Word origin
Derived from Latin patientia (from patior 'to suffer, endure') and retained in Spanish via Vulgar Latin and Old Spanish.
Usage tips
- Spanish commonly uses tener paciencia ('to have patience') to describe putting up with delays, whereas English more often uses 'be patient', so the verb choice differs.
Other meanings
- endurancenoun
- forbearancenoun
Opposites
- impacienciaimpatiencenoun
Related words
- pacientepatientadjective
- pacientementepatientlyadverb