aguardar
“aguardar” means “to wait for” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
to wait for
Also: to await
📝 In Action
Te aguardo en la entrada del cine.
A2I'm waiting for you at the cinema entrance.
Los pasajeros aguardan la llegada del tren con paciencia.
B1The passengers are waiting for the train's arrival with patience.
Debemos aguardar el momento oportuno para hablar con el jefe.
B2We must wait for the right moment to speak with the boss.
to lie ahead
Also: to be in store for
📝 In Action
Nadie sabe qué sorpresas nos aguardan este año.
B2No one knows what surprises lie ahead for us this year.
Un gran futuro le aguarda tras su graduación.
B2A great future is in store for her after her graduation.
El destino que les aguardaba era totalmente inesperado.
C1The fate that lay ahead of them was totally unexpected.
🔄 Conjugations
subjunctive
imperfect
present
indicative
preterite
imperfect
present
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: aguardar
Question 1 of 3
Which sentence uses 'aguardar' correctly in a formal setting?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
From the old Germanic word 'wardon' meaning 'to watch over' or 'to guard,' which evolved in Spanish to mean waiting with expectation.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can 'aguardar' mean 'to hope' like 'esperar' does?
No. While 'esperar' can mean both 'to wait' and 'to hope,' 'aguardar' is strictly limited to 'waiting for' or 'expecting' something/someone.
Is 'aguardar' irregular in the past tense?
No, it is a perfectly regular -ar verb. It follows the same patterns as 'hablar' or 'cantar' in all tenses.
Do people actually say 'aguardar' in the street?
Rarely. It's much more common to hear it in movies, read it in books, or hear it in formal announcements (like at a train station).