espera
“espera” means “the wait” in Spanish. It has 3 different meanings depending on context:
the wait
Also: the waiting period, the hope, the expectation
📝 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.
he/she waits, you wait
Also: he/she hopes, he/she expects
📝 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?
wait!
Also: hold on!
📝 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.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: espera
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'espera' as a noun meaning 'the wait'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Latin verb 'spērāre', which meant 'to hope' or 'to expect'. Over time, the idea of 'expecting' something also came to include the act of 'waiting' for it.
First recorded: Around the 12th century.
Cognates (Related words)
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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').