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esperanza

es-pe-RAN-sa

NounfA1

hope?The feeling that what you want will happen

Also:expectation?A general feeling about the future

📝 In Action

Nunca pierdas la esperanza de un futuro mejor.

Never lose hope for a better future.

Ella es mi única esperanza de ganar la competencia.

She is my only hope of winning the competition.

Nos dio una pequeña esperanza de que el tratamiento funcionaría.

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.)

💡 Grammar Points

Always Feminine

Esperanza is always a feminine noun, so you must use 'la' or 'una' before it: 'La esperanza' (The hope).

Noun vs. Verb

The related verb is 'esperar,' which means both 'to wait' and 'to hope.' 'Esperanza' (the noun) only means 'hope' or 'expectation'—never 'the wait'.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Using the Wrong Gender

Mistake: "El esperanza."

Correction: La esperanza. Always remember feminine nouns that end in '-a' are common, and this one is definitely feminine.

⭐ Usage Tips

Expressing Optimism

A very natural way to express hope is to use the verb form: 'Espero que...' (I hope that...).

✏️ 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

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.