espérame
ess-PEH-rah-meh (Stress is on the second syllable, 'pe')
Quick Reference
📝 In Action
¡Corre, corre! No te vayas, espérame.
A1Run, run! Don't leave, wait for me.
Tengo que atarme los zapatos. ¿Puedes espérame un momento?
A2I have to tie my shoes. Can you wait for me a moment?
Si llegas primero a la puerta, espérame allí, por favor.
B1If you get to the door first, wait for me there, please.
💡 Grammar Points
The Command Structure
This word is a single command formed by taking the informal 'you' command form of 'esperar' (espera) and attaching the pronoun 'me' (for 'me').
Keeping the Stress
When you attach a pronoun to an affirmative command, you usually have to add an accent mark to keep the stress on the same syllable as the original command: 'espera' becomes 'espérame'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Pronoun Placement Error
Mistake: "Me espera (when commanding someone)"
Correction: Espérame. When giving a positive command, the 'me' must be attached to the end of the verb. 'Me espera' means 'He/She/It waits for me.'
⭐ Usage Tips
Formal vs. Informal
Use 'espérame' only when speaking to someone you address as 'tú' (friends, family, peers). For a formal command (like to a boss or elder), you would say 'espéreme'.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: espérame
Question 1 of 2
If you wanted to give this command to your professor (a formal setting), how would you change the word 'espérame'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'espérame' the same as 'espera por mí'?
No. While 'espera por mí' is technically understandable, it sounds unnatural. In Spanish, the verb 'esperar' already means 'to wait *for* someone/something,' so you simply use the direct object pronoun 'me' attached to the verb: 'espérame'.
Why is the pronoun 'me' attached, not put before the verb?
In Spanish, object pronouns (like 'me', 'te', 'lo', 'la') are always attached to the end of affirmative commands (positive instructions). They only go before the verb in negative commands ('No me esperes').