Inklingo
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impaciente

/eem-pah-syen-teh/

impatient

A person standing by a closed door, tapping their foot and looking at their empty wrist with a frustrated expression.

A person showing signs of being impaciente while waiting for someone to open a door.

impaciente(adjective)

m or fA2

impatient

?

lacking patience or tolerance

Also:

eager

?

restless with anticipation

,

anxious

?

restless or uneasy

📝 In Action

Mi hermano es muy impaciente; nunca puede esperar cinco minutos.

A2

My brother is very impatient; he can never wait five minutes.

Estoy impaciente por empezar mis vacaciones.

B1

I am eager to start my vacation.

La multitud se puso impaciente cuando el concierto se retrasó.

B1

The crowd grew impatient when the concert was delayed.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • inquieto (restless)
  • ansioso (anxious)

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • ponerse impaciente – to get/become impatient
  • estar impaciente por – to be eager to

💡 Grammar Points

One word for everyone

This word ends in -e, which means it doesn't change for gender. You can use it for 'él' (him), 'ella' (her), or 'usted' (you) without changing the ending.

Ser vs. Estar

Use 'ser' if someone is naturally an impatient person, and 'estar' if they are just feeling impatient right now.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Avoid 'impacienta'

Mistake: "Ella es impacienta."

Correction: Say 'Ella es impaciente.' The word never ends in 'a' or 'o'.

⭐ Usage Tips

Feeling Eager

When you are excited and can't wait for something good to happen, use 'estar impaciente por' followed by a verb in its base form.

A person at the back of a short line, leaning forward and peering around the others with an annoyed face.

An impaciente person who is struggling to wait their turn in a small line.

impaciente(noun)

m or fB1

impatient person

?

someone who cannot wait

📝 In Action

El impaciente de mi jefe llamó tres veces esta mañana.

B2

That impatient boss of mine called three times this morning.

No seas un impaciente, el pastel necesita tiempo en el horno.

B1

Don't be such an impatient person; the cake needs time in the oven.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • apresurado (someone in a hurry)

Antonyms

💡 Grammar Points

Turning descriptions into people

By putting 'el' or 'la' in front of 'impaciente', you turn the description into a noun meaning 'the impatient man' or 'the impatient woman'.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: impaciente

Question 1 of 2

If your friend is naturally an impatient person throughout their whole life, which verb should you use?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

paciencia(patience) - noun
impaciencia(impatience) - noun
impacientar(to make someone lose their patience) - verb
paciente(patient) - adjective

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use 'impaciente' to mean I'm excited?

Yes! If you say 'Estoy impaciente por verte' (I'm impatient to see you), it carries the same meaning as 'I'm really excited/eager to see you'.

Does it ever change to 'impacientes'?

Yes, if you are talking about more than one person, you add an 's' to the end: 'Ellos son impacientes'.