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A high quality storybook illustration of a person sitting calmly on a wooden stool on a riverbank, holding a fishing rod and waiting patiently for a fish to bite.

paciencia

pah-syen-syah

nounfA2
patience?ability to wait calmly
Also:endurance?ability to tolerate hardship,tolerance?accepting delay or annoyance

📝 In Action

Necesitas mucha paciencia para enseñar a niños pequeños.

A2

You need a lot of patience to teach small children.

Perdí la paciencia esperando el autobús que nunca llegó.

B1

I lost patience waiting for the bus that never arrived.

Ten paciencia, el proceso es lento pero seguro.

A1

Have patience (Be patient), the process is slow but sure.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • calma (calmness)
  • aguante (stamina, endurance)

Antonyms

  • impaciencia (impatience)
  • prisa (haste)

Common Collocations

  • tener paciencia – to have patience (to be patient)
  • perder la paciencia – to lose patience
  • armarse de paciencia – to arm oneself with patience (prepare for a long wait)

Idioms & Expressions

  • La paciencia es la madre de la ciencia. – Patience is the key to success and knowledge.

💡 Grammar Points

Gender Alert

Remember that 'paciencia' is a feminine noun, so you must use the article 'la' (la paciencia) and feminine adjectives with it.

Being Patient

To say 'to be patient' in Spanish, you usually say 'tener paciencia' (to have patience), rather than using the verb 'ser' or 'estar' directly with the noun.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Mixing 'Ser' and 'Tener'

Mistake: "Soy paciencia. (I am patience.)"

Correction: Tengo paciencia. (I have patience.) Use 'tener' to describe possessing this quality, or use the adjective: 'Soy paciente' (I am patient).

⭐ Usage Tips

Direct Command

A very common way to tell someone to wait calmly is using the command form of 'tener' (to have): 'Ten paciencia' (You, singular, informal) or 'Tenga paciencia' (You, singular, formal).

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: paciencia

Question 1 of 2

Which Spanish phrase is the most natural way to say 'You need to be patient'?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

paciente(patient (adjective)) - adjective
impaciente(impatient (adjective)) - adjective
impaciencia(impatience) - noun

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I use 'paciencia' in a command?

You use the verb 'tener' (to have). To tell a friend, say '¡Ten paciencia!' To tell a boss or someone you don't know well, say '¡Tenga paciencia!'

Is 'paciencia' the same as 'calma'?

They are similar, but 'paciencia' specifically refers to the ability to wait or endure without getting upset, while 'calma' is a more general state of tranquility or lack of agitation.