espero
“espero” means “I wait for” in Spanish. It has 3 different meanings depending on context:
I wait for
Also: I'm waiting for
📝 In Action
Espero el autobús en la parada.
A1I wait for the bus at the bus stop.
Te espero en el café a las cinco.
A1I'll wait for you at the café at five.
Siempre espero a que la luz se ponga verde.
A2I always wait for the light to turn green.
I hope
📝 In Action
Espero que estés bien.
A2I hope you are well.
Espero ganar la lotería algún día.
B1I hope to win the lottery someday.
Espero que no llueva mañana.
A2I hope it doesn't rain tomorrow.
I expect
📝 In Action
Espero una llamada de mi jefe.
B1I'm expecting a call from my boss.
No espero menos de ti.
B1I expect no less from you.
Espero recibir el paquete mañana.
B2I expect to receive the package tomorrow.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: espero
Question 1 of 3
Which sentence means 'I hope it doesn't rain'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Latin word 'spērāre', which means 'to hope' or 'to look for'. You can see how this single Latin root grew into all three modern Spanish meanings: hoping for something, looking (waiting) for something, and looking forward to (expecting) something.
First recorded: Around the 10th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why are there three meanings for one word? How do I know which one is being used?
Context is everything! If someone is looking at their watch at a bus stop, 'espero' means 'I wait'. If they are talking about a friend's exam, 'espero' means 'I hope'. If they are looking at the door, 'espero' probably means 'I expect'. You'll get used to telling the difference very quickly.
Do I always need 'que' after 'espero' when I'm hoping for something?
Only when you're hoping that *someone or something else* does an action. For example, 'Espero que **tú** vengas' (I hope that **you** come). If you are hoping to do the action yourself, you don't use 'que'. For example, 'Espero venir' (I hope to come).
Is 'espero' the same as 'I am waiting'?
Yes, it can be. In Spanish, the simple present tense ('espero') is often used for actions happening right now, just like 'I am waiting' in English. You can also say 'Estoy esperando', which is a more direct translation, but 'espero' is very common and natural in this situation.