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How to Say "wait!" in Spanish

English → Spanish

espera

es-PEH-rahesˈpeɾa

Verb (Command)A1Informal
Use this informal command when telling one person (tú) to pause briefly.
A friendly person holding up a hand in a gentle 'stop' or 'wait' gesture, illustrating the command '¡Espera!'.

Examples

¡Espera! Se te cayeron las llaves.

Wait! You dropped your keys.

Espera un segundo, ya casi termino.

Wait a second, I'm almost finished.

Espera, no tan rápido.

Hold on, not so fast.

Informal 'You' (tú)

This command form, 'espera', is used when talking to one person you know well, like a friend or family member (someone you call 'tú').

Formal vs. Informal

Mistake: “Using '¡Espera!' with a stranger or your boss.”

Correction: For someone you should be more polite with (someone you call 'usted'), use '¡Espere!'. The ending changes from '-a' to '-e'.

esperen

es-PEH-rehnesˈpe.ɾen

VerbA1Formal/Informal (Latin America)
Use this command when addressing a group of people formally (ustedes) or informally in Latin America, asking them to pause.
An illustration showing a person holding up an open hand, signaling two other people to pause their movement and stop walking.

Examples

¡Esperen aquí, por favor! El doctor viene en cinco minutos.

Wait here, please! The doctor is coming in five minutes.

Esperen un segundo mientras busco las llaves.

Hold on a second while I look for the keys.

No esperen más, la puerta ya está abierta.

Don't wait any longer, the door is already open.

Formal Plural Command

This form is used to give a direct order to a group of people you address formally (ustedes). The negative command is 'No esperen'.

Using 'Tú' Form for a Group

Mistake: “A learner might incorrectly say '¡Espera!' when talking to three adults.”

Correction: When addressing multiple people (a group), always use '¡Esperen!' (formal) or '¡Esperad!' (informal, mainly Spain).

aguarda

ah-GWAHR-dahaˈɣwaɾða

Verb (Command Form)A1Informal
This is an informal command (tú) similar to 'espera', requesting a brief pause.
A person's hand is raised, palm facing outward, clearly signaling a stop to a small, running dog.

Examples

Aguarda un segundo, necesito encontrar mis llaves.

Wait a second, I need to find my keys.

Aguarda mi señal antes de empezar.

Wait for my signal before starting.

Informal Commands

When giving a direct command to someone you address informally (tú), the verb often takes the same form as the 'él/ella' present tense. Here, 'aguarda' means 'you, wait!'

Using the 'You' Form for Commands

Mistake: “Using 'tú aguardas' when giving a command.”

Correction: The command form is simply 'aguarda' (Wait!). You drop the 's' and the pronoun 'tú'.

detente

deh-TEN-tehdeˈtente

VerbA2Neutral
Use this command to abruptly tell someone to stop their movement or action, implying a more urgent halt than a simple pause.
A colorful storybook illustration showing a simplified human figure running quickly and then abruptly stopping mid-stride, leaning back with arms raised, symbolizing a sudden halt.

Examples

¡Detente! Hay un coche viniendo.

Stop! There's a car coming.

Detente un momento, necesito atarme los zapatos.

Hold on a moment, I need to tie my shoes.

Si ves algo sospechoso, detente y llama a la policía.

If you see something suspicious, stop and call the police.

Imperative + Pronoun Rule

When you give a positive command to someone using the tú form, you always attach the pronoun te to the end of the verb, making one word: detente.

Base Verb Irregularity

The base verb detener ('to stop' or 'to detain') follows the same irregular patterns as tener ('to have'), so memorize those conjugations first.

Incorrect Separation

Mistake: “¡Deten te!”

Correction: ¡Detente! Remember, the command and the pronoun fuse together into a single word for affirmative commands.

aguanta

ah-GWAHN-tahaˈɣwan.ta

InterjectionB1Informal
Use this as an informal interjection to tell someone to hold on or pause, often used when you need a moment before proceeding.
A cartoon character is standing completely still with one arm extended forward and the palm flat, signaling a stop or pause.

Examples

—¿Ya salimos? —¡Aguanta, tengo que buscar mis llaves!

—Should we leave now? —Wait, I have to find my keys!

Aguanta un segundo, el autobús ya viene.

Hold on a second, the bus is coming now.

Imperative Use

As an interjection, '¡Aguanta!' is the affirmative command form for 'tú' (you, informal). It functions exactly like saying 'Wait!' or 'Hold on!' in English.

Using 'Espérate' vs. 'Aguanta'

Mistake: “Using 'Espera' when the context is physical effort or extreme patience.”

Correction: 'Aguanta' is better for commands related to physical actions or enduring difficulty, while 'espera' is strictly about waiting for time to pass.

Informal vs. Formal 'Wait'

The most common confusion is between 'espera'/'aguarda' (informal singular) and 'esperen' (formal plural/Latin American plural). Always consider if you are speaking to one person you know well (tú forms) or a group/someone formally (ustedes form).

Related Translations

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