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esperanza

es-pe-RAN-sa/es.peˈɾan.sa/

“esperanza” means “hope” in Spanish (The feeling that what you want will happen).

hope

Also: expectation
NounfA1
General
A close-up illustration showing a small, bright green plant sprout emerging from dry, cracked brown soil, reaching toward a warm, golden sunbeam.

📝 In Action

Nunca pierdas la esperanza de un futuro mejor.

A1

Never lose hope for a better future.

Ella es mi única esperanza de ganar la competencia.

A2

She is my only hope of winning the competition.

Nos dio una pequeña esperanza de que el tratamiento funcionaría.

B1

It gave us a small expectation (or glimmer of hope) that the treatment would work.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • ilusión (excitement; dream)
  • confianza (trust; confidence)

Antonyms

  • desesperación (despair)
  • pesimismo (pessimism)

Common Collocations

  • Tener esperanza – To have hope
  • Perder la esperanza – To lose hope
  • La luz de la esperanza – The light of hope

Idioms & Expressions

  • La esperanza es lo último que se pierde. – Hope dies last. (You should never give up hope.)

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "esperanza" in Spanish:

expectation→hope→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: esperanza

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence correctly uses the noun 'esperanza'?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
esperar(to hope; to wait) — Verb
esperanzador(a)(hopeful; encouraging) — Adjective
desesperanza(hopelessness) — Noun
🎵 Rhymes▼
bonanzaalabanza
📚 Etymology▼

Comes directly from the Latin word *sperantia*, which itself derived from the verb *sperare* (to hope).

First recorded: 13th century (in its current form)

Cognates (Related words)

Italian: speranzaPortuguese: esperança

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'esperanza' ever used as a girl's name?

Yes, 'Esperanza' is a traditional and common feminine Spanish name, often symbolizing the positive virtue of hope.

How is 'esperanza' different from 'ilusión'?

'Esperanza' (hope) is usually deep, serious, and enduring. 'Ilusión' often means excitement or a keen dream about something specific ('Me hace ilusión viajar'). While related, 'ilusión' is often lighter and more focused on immediate plans.