esperabas
“esperabas” means “you were waiting” in Spanish (Continuous past action).
you were waiting, you used to wait, you were hoping, you were expectingAlso: did you wait (question)
📝 In Action
¿Qué esperabas cuando llegué a la fiesta?
A2What were you expecting when I arrived at the party?
Siempre esperabas el autobús en esa esquina.
B1You always used to wait for the bus on that corner.
No te veía, pero yo sabía que me esperabas.
B1I couldn't see you, but I knew you were waiting for me.
Word Connections
Indicative
Present
Imperfect
Preterite
Subjunctive
Present Subjunctive
Imperfect Subjunctive
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: esperabas
Question 1 of 2
Which English phrase best captures the meaning of 'esperabas'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family
🎵 Rhymes
📚 Etymology
Comes from the Latin verb *sperare*, meaning 'to hope' or 'to look forward to.' Over time, in Spanish, it took on the additional meaning of 'to wait,' combining hope with the physical act of waiting.
First recorded: Appeared in Spanish as *esperar* during the 10th century.
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'esperabas' used for 'hope' or 'wait'?
It can be used for both! Since it comes from *esperar*, it means 'you were waiting' or 'you were hoping/expecting,' depending on the context. If you are waiting for a person, it means 'wait.' If you are talking about an outcome, it means 'hope' or 'expect.'
Does 'esperabas' imply the waiting finished?
Not necessarily. The imperfect tense ('esperabas') focuses on the process of waiting without saying when it started or ended. It just describes the situation in the past.