instante
een-STAHN-teh
📝 In Action
Espera un instante, necesito encontrar mis llaves.
A1Wait an instant, I need to find my keys.
En ese instante, el mundo se detuvo para ella.
A2In that moment, the world stopped for her.
La tormenta pasó en solo unos instantes.
B1The storm passed in just a few moments.
💡 Grammar Points
Masculine Noun
Remember that 'instante' is always a masculine noun, so you must use 'un' or 'el' before it, never 'una' or 'la'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using the wrong preposition
Mistake: "Llegó a instante."
Correction: Llegó en el instante (He arrived at the moment) or Llegó al instante (He arrived instantly). The most common preposition is 'en' or 'a la' for the common phrase 'al instante'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Expressing Immediacy
The phrase 'al instante' is one of the most natural ways to say 'right away' or 'immediately' in Spanish. Use it often!
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: instante
Question 1 of 2
Which phrase correctly means 'He reacted immediately'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'instante' interchangeable with 'momento'?
Yes, most of the time they are interchangeable, especially in everyday conversation. However, 'instante' often carries a stronger sense of brevity—it's a 'split-second,' whereas 'momento' can be a slightly longer, general period.
How do I say 'just a moment' using 'instante'?
You can say 'Espera un instante' or 'Dame un instante.' Both are common and perfectly natural ways to ask someone to wait briefly.