esperar
“esperar” means “to wait for” in Spanish. It has 3 different meanings depending on context:
to wait for
Also: to hold on
📝 In Action
Estoy esperando el autobús.
A1I'm waiting for the bus.
Te espero en el café a las cinco.
A1I'll wait for you at the café at five.
¿Puedes esperar un momento, por favor?
A2Can you wait a moment, please?
to hope
📝 In Action
Espero que tengas un buen día.
A2I hope you have a good day.
Esperamos ganar el partido.
B1We hope to win the game.
Mi abuela espera sentirse mejor pronto.
B1My grandmother hopes to feel better soon.
to expect
📝 In Action
No esperaba tu llamada.
B1I wasn't expecting your call.
Se espera lluvia para el fin de semana.
B1Rain is expected for the weekend.
Mi jefe espera el informe para mañana.
B2My boss expects the report by tomorrow.
Mi hermana está esperando un bebé.
B1My sister is expecting a baby.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
🔀 Commonly Confused With
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: esperar
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'esperar' to mean 'to wait'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Latin word `spērāre`, which meant 'to hope' or 'to look for'. You can see the family resemblance in other languages like French (`espérer`) and Italian (`sperare`).
First recorded: Around the 12th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
How can I tell if 'esperar' means 'to wait', 'to hope', or 'to expect'?
It's all about the context! Think about the situation. If it's about time passing at a location (like a bus stop), it means 'to wait'. If it's about a wish for the future (like passing an exam), it means 'to hope'. If it's about something you think will probably happen (like a scheduled delivery), it means 'to expect'. The surrounding words will give you all the clues you need.
Why does the verb after 'esperar que' sometimes change its ending?
That's a great question! In Spanish, when you express a hope, wish, or doubt about what someone *else* will do, the verb for that action changes its ending. This special form (the subjunctive) signals that it's not a fact, but a hope. So, 'Espero que vengas' (I hope you come) uses this special form, but 'Creo que vienes' (I believe you are coming) uses the normal form because it expresses more certainty.