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How to Say "expectations" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “expectations” is “expectativas” — use 'expectativas' when referring to hopes, beliefs, or predictions about how something will turn out in the future, especially when evaluating whether those predictions were met..

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expectativas

/eks-pek-ta-TEE-bahs//ekspektaˈtiβas/

nounB1general
Use 'expectativas' when referring to hopes, beliefs, or predictions about how something will turn out in the future, especially when evaluating whether those predictions were met.
A small child planting a seed in a garden and looking up with a hopeful smile, imagining a giant sunflower.

Examples

La película superó todas mis expectativas.

The movie exceeded all my expectations.

Tengo altas expectativas para el nuevo trabajo.

I have high expectations for the new job.

Hay buenas expectativas de crecimiento económico este año.

There are good prospects for economic growth this year.

Always Feminine and Usually Plural

This word is feminine (las expectativas). While you can use the singular 'expectativa', we almost always use the plural when talking about general hopes or standards for a person or project.

Expectativa vs. Esperanza

Mistake: “Using 'expectativa' for a purely emotional wish.”

Correction: Use 'esperanza' for emotional hope and 'expectativa' for a calculated or logical expectation of what will likely happen.

esperanzas

es-peh-RAHN-sas/espeˈɾansas/

nounB1general
Use 'esperanzas' to talk about specific things you are looking forward to or hoping will happen, often with a sense of optimism or desire.
A small, vibrant green sprout pushing up from brown soil, stretching its leaves toward a large, glowing yellow sun in a clear blue sky.

Examples

Tenemos muchas esperanzas de que el proyecto funcione.

We have high hopes that the project will work.

No pierdas las esperanzas, todo saldrá bien.

Don't lose hope (your hopes), everything will turn out fine.

Las esperanzas de la gente se centraban en el nuevo líder.

The people's hopes were focused on the new leader.

Always Feminine and Plural

The word 'esperanzas' is always treated as a feminine plural noun, so it takes feminine plural words before it (like 'las' or 'muchas').

Gender Confusion

Mistake: “Decir 'los esperanzas' o 'mucho esperanzas'.”

Correction: Use the feminine articles and modifiers: 'las esperanzas' or 'muchas esperanzas'.

esperas

es-PEH-ras/esˈpeɾas/

nounB1general
Use 'esperas' to refer to the act or period of waiting for something or someone, emphasizing the duration or the experience of being in a state of waiting.
A line of three distinct cartoon animals—a rabbit, a fox, and a bear—standing patiently one behind the other at a closed window, depicting multiple periods of delay.

Examples

Las esperas en el hospital son muy largas.

The waits at the hospital are very long.

No cumplió con las esperas del cliente.

He did not meet the client's expectations.

Debido a las esperas, perdimos el vuelo.

Due to the delays (waits), we missed the flight.

Source of the Noun

This noun is the plural form of 'la espera' (the wait), which comes directly from the verb 'esperar' (to wait).

Esperanzas vs. Expectativas

Learners often confuse 'esperanzas' and 'expectativas'. Remember that 'expectativas' are about future outcomes you anticipate or judge against, while 'esperanzas' are more about wishes or specific things you are hoping for.

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