esperas
/es-PEH-ras/
you wait
When speaking informally to one person, esperas means "you wait."
esperas(Verb)
you wait
?when speaking informally to one person (tú)
,you are waiting
?in the sense of an action happening now
you hope
?as in, you have hope for something
📝 In Action
¿Qué esperas de mí?
A2What do you expect from me?
Esperas el autobús en la esquina.
A1You wait for the bus on the corner.
Si esperas demasiado, lo perderás.
B1If you wait too long, you will lose it.
💡 Grammar Points
Waiting For People vs. Things
When waiting for a person, use 'a' before the person: 'Esperas a María.' When waiting for a thing, no 'a' is needed: 'Esperas el tren.'
Wait vs. Hope
The verb 'esperar' covers both meanings. Context tells you which one it is. If you're waiting for something good, it often means 'to hope'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing 'esperar' with 'to expect'
Mistake: "Espero que tú vas a venir. (Incorrect verb form)"
Correction: Espero que tú vayas a venir. (Use the special verb form—subjunctive—after 'esperar' when expressing hope or expectation.)
⭐ Usage Tips
Using the 'tú' form
Remember 'esperas' is only used when you are speaking informally (tú) to one person. If you are speaking formally (usted), use 'espera'.
As a plural noun, esperas refers to multiple "waits" or periods of delay.
📝 In Action
Las esperas en el hospital son muy largas.
B1The waits at the hospital are very long.
No cumplió con las esperas del cliente.
B2He did not meet the client's expectations.
Debido a las esperas, perdimos el vuelo.
B1Due to the delays (waits), we missed the flight.
💡 Grammar Points
Source of the Noun
This noun is the plural form of 'la espera' (the wait), which comes directly from the verb 'esperar' (to wait).
⭐ Usage Tips
Fixed Phrases
You will often hear the singular form 'sala de espera' (waiting room) or 'en espera' (on hold/on standby).
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: esperas
Question 1 of 2
Which English phrase correctly translates 'Esperas el paquete desde hace una semana'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'esperas' the same as 'estás esperando'?
They are very similar! 'Esperas' (Present Simple) means 'You wait' or 'You habitually wait.' 'Estás esperando' (Present Continuous) emphasizes that the waiting is happening right now. In Spanish, the simple present ('esperas') is often used even when talking about something happening at the moment, making it more common.
How do I know if 'esperas' means 'wait' or 'hope'?
Context is key. If the sentence involves an action that takes time (like waiting for a bus or a person), it means 'to wait.' If it involves a desire for a future outcome (like 'esperas que todo salga bien'), it means 'to hope' or 'to expect.'