How to Say "expectation" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “expectation” is “esperanza” — use 'esperanza' when you mean a general feeling of hope for something positive to happen in the future, often with an emotional component.
esperanza
es-pe-RAN-saes.peˈɾan.sa
Examples
Nunca pierdas la esperanza de un futuro mejor.
Never lose hope for a better future.
Ella es mi única esperanza de ganar la competencia.
She is my only hope of winning the competition.
Nos dio una pequeña esperanza de que el tratamiento funcionaría.
It gave us a small expectation (or glimmer of hope) that the treatment would work.
Always Feminine
Esperanza is always a feminine noun, so you must use 'la' or 'una' before it: 'La esperanza' (The hope).
Noun vs. Verb
The related verb is 'esperar,' which means both 'to wait' and 'to hope.' 'Esperanza' (the noun) only means 'hope' or 'expectation'—never 'the wait'.
Using the Wrong Gender
Mistake: “El esperanza.”
Correction: La esperanza. Always remember feminine nouns that end in '-a' are common, and this one is definitely feminine.
expectativa
eks-pek-ta-TEE-bahekspektaˈtiβa
Examples
Tengo muchas expectativas para mi nuevo trabajo.
I have high expectations for my new job.
La película no cumplió con mis expectativas.
The movie didn't meet my expectations.
La expectativa de vida ha aumentado en las últimas décadas.
Life expectancy has increased in recent decades.
Always Feminine
Even though it ends in 'a', it's good to remember it's always 'la expectativa' or 'las expectativas'. It never changes gender.
Plural for Standards
When talking about your personal standards or what you hope from someone, we almost always use the plural form: 'mis expectativas'.
Don't say 'Expectación'
Mistake: “Había mucha expectativa por el concierto.”
Correction: Había mucha expectación por el concierto.
Hope vs. Specific Beliefs
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