esperen
/es-PEH-rehn/
Wait!
"Esperen!" is a formal command telling a group of people to wait or pause.
esperen(verb)
Wait!
?Direct, formal command to a group ('ustedes')
,Hold on!
?Asking a group to pause briefly
Be patient!
?Implied meaning when asking for patience
📝 In Action
¡Esperen aquí, por favor! El doctor viene en cinco minutos.
A1Wait here, please! The doctor is coming in five minutes.
Esperen un segundo mientras busco las llaves.
A2Hold on a second while I look for the keys.
No esperen más, la puerta ya está abierta.
A2Don't wait any longer, the door is already open.
💡 Grammar Points
Formal Plural Command
This form is used to give a direct order to a group of people you address formally (ustedes). The negative command is 'No esperen'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using 'Tú' Form for a Group
Mistake: "A learner might incorrectly say '¡Espera!' when talking to three adults."
Correction: When addressing multiple people (a group), always use '¡Esperen!' (formal) or '¡Esperad!' (informal, mainly Spain).
⭐ Usage Tips
Adding Politeness
Always add 'por favor' (please) or 'un momento' (one moment) after 'Esperen' to sound polite, especially in a service setting.
When used in the subjunctive mood, "esperen" refers to the desire or necessity that a group waits.
esperen(verb)
(that they/you all) wait
?Used in the subjunctive mood
,(that they/you all) hope
?Used when referring to the idea of hoping
📝 In Action
Espero que ustedes esperen pacientemente el resultado.
B1I hope that you all wait patiently for the result.
Es importante que ellos esperen nuestra señal antes de empezar.
B1It is important that they wait for our signal before starting.
Necesitamos que esperen en la fila para que todo sea justo.
B2We need you all to wait in line so that everything is fair.
💡 Grammar Points
The Special Mood (Subjunctive)
This form is used in the second half of a sentence when the main verb expresses a wish, doubt, emotion, or necessity about the action of waiting.
Reference to 'They' or Formal 'You All'
When used in the subjunctive, 'esperen' can mean 'that they wait' (ellos/ellas) or 'that you all wait' (ustedes). The context tells you which one it is.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Forgetting the Mood Change
Mistake: "Learners often say: 'Espero que ellos esperan' (using the normal verb form)."
Correction: After 'espero que...' (I hope that...), the following verb must change to the subjunctive form: 'Espero que ellos esperen'.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: esperen
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'esperen' as a command?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'esperen' and 'esperad'?
'Esperen' is the formal command for 'you all' (ustedes), used everywhere in Latin America and formally in Spain. 'Esperad' is the informal command for 'you all' (vosotros), used almost exclusively in Spain.
Does 'esperen' only mean 'wait'?
No, 'esperen' comes from 'esperar,' which can mean both 'to wait' and 'to hope.' While 'wait' is more common in the command form, it technically carries the meaning of 'that they hope' or 'that you all hope' in the subjunctive.