espera
/es-PEH-rah/
the wait
This person is in 'la espera'—the act of waiting for something, like a train. As a noun, 'la espera' is the period of time you spend waiting.
espera(Noun)
the wait
?General period of waiting
the waiting period
?A defined duration of waiting
,the hope
?More poetic or literary
,the expectation
?Anticipating something
📝 In Action
La espera en el consultorio del doctor fue de una hora.
A2The wait at the doctor's office was one hour.
Odio la espera, soy muy impaciente.
B1I hate the wait, I'm very impatient.
Estamos en espera de los resultados.
B1We are awaiting the results.
💡 Grammar Points
Always Feminine
Remember that 'espera' as a noun is always feminine, so you'll use 'la' or 'una' with it. For example, 'la espera' (the wait) or 'una larga espera' (a long wait).
⭐ Usage Tips
Describing the Wait
It's very common to describe 'la espera' with adjectives like 'larga' (long) or 'corta' (short). For instance, 'Fue una corta espera'.
This woman 'espera' good news. This is a form of the verb 'esperar' and can mean 'he/she waits', 'he/she hopes', or 'you (formal) wait'.
espera(Verb)
he/she waits
?e.g., for a bus
,you wait
?Formal 'usted'
he/she hopes
?e.g., for a good outcome
,he/she expects
?e.g., a package
📝 In Action
Mi hermano espera el tren en la estación.
A1My brother waits for the train at the station.
Ella espera que todo salga bien.
A2She hopes that everything turns out well.
¿Usted espera a alguien?
A2Are you (formal) waiting for someone?
💡 Grammar Points
Wait vs. Hope
The verb 'esperar' means both 'to wait' and 'to hope'. You can usually tell the difference from the rest of the sentence. If you're waiting for something or someone, use 'esperar a'. If you're hoping that something happens, use 'esperar que'.
Using 'esperar que'
When you say you hope that something else happens, the next verb often needs a special ending (this is called the subjunctive). For example, 'Ella espera que tú vengas' (She hopes that you come).
This gesture means '¡Espera!'. You use this command to tell a friend to wait for a moment.
espera(Verb (Command))
wait!
?Informal command to one person
hold on!
?Informal, like on the phone
📝 In Action
¡Espera! Se te cayeron las llaves.
A1Wait! You dropped your keys.
Espera un segundo, ya casi termino.
A1Wait a second, I'm almost finished.
Espera, no tan rápido.
A2Hold on, not so fast.
💡 Grammar Points
Informal 'You' (tú)
This command form, 'espera', is used when talking to one person you know well, like a friend or family member (someone you call 'tú').
❌ Common Pitfalls
Formal vs. Informal
Mistake: "Using '¡Espera!' with a stranger or your boss."
Correction: For someone you should be more polite with (someone you call 'usted'), use '¡Espere!'. The ending changes from '-a' to '-e'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Softening the Command
To sound more polite, you can add 'un momento' or 'por favor'. For example, 'Espera un momento, por favor' (Wait a moment, please).
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: espera
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'espera' as a noun meaning 'the wait'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if 'esperar' means 'to wait' or 'to hope'?
It's all about what comes next in the sentence! If you are waiting *for* a person or thing, it means 'to wait' (e.g., 'Espero el autobús' - I wait for the bus). If you are talking about something you wish would happen, often followed by 'que', it means 'to hope' (e.g., 'Espero que estés bien' - I hope you are well).
What's the difference between the commands 'espera' and 'espere'?
It's about politeness and who you're talking to. Use '¡Espera!' with a friend, child, or family member (the informal 'tú'). Use '¡Espere!' with a stranger, an older person, or in a professional setting (the formal 'usted').