French word

patienter

Pronunciation

IPA/pasjɑ̃te/

Meaning

  • verbwait

Example

Veuillez patienter un instant, s'il vous plaît.

Please wait a moment.

Illustration for patienter (wait)

More examples

Il faut parfois patienter pour parler au service client.

Sometimes you have to wait to speak with customer service.

Core concept

A calm person staying put while the expected moment arrives.

Common phrases

  • patienter un instant

    wait a moment

  • patienter au téléphone

    wait on the phone

  • patienter dans la file

    wait in line

Similar words

attendre: To wait for a person or event to arrive or happen.

Definition in French

Attendre quelque chose en gardant son calme et en acceptant le délai.

Word origin

French formed the verb patienter from patient plus -er; patient comes from Latin patiens, the present participle of patior, meaning "to endure".

Usage tips

  • Patienter is more formal than attendre and often appears in service announcements or polite requests.

Other meanings

  • be patientverb

Opposites

  • s'impatienterbecome impatientverb
  • se précipiterrushverb

Related words

Word lists with this word