What is “wait” in Spanish? In the Spanish language, the word for “wait” is “esperar.” This verb is commonly used to express the act of waiting for something or someone to arrive. Whether it’s waiting for a bus, for a friend to show up, or for a meal to be served, “esperar” is the go-to term in Spanish to convey the concept of waiting.
The verb “esperar” is an irregular verb in Spanish, which means that its conjugation changes according to the subject pronoun. Here’s a basic conjugation of “esperar” for different subjects:
– Yo espero (I wait)
– Tú esperas (You wait)
– Él/ella/usted espera (He/she/you wait)
– Nosotros/nosotras esperamos (We wait)
– Vosotros/vosotras esperáis (You all wait)
– Ellos/ellas/ustedes esperan (They wait)
Understanding the conjugation of “esperar” is essential when expressing the act of waiting in different contexts. For instance, if you want to say “I am waiting,” you would use “Estoy esperando.” Similarly, “We are waiting” would be “Estamos esperando.”
In addition to the verb “esperar,” there are other ways to express the concept of waiting in Spanish. For example, “esperar a” is a phrase that means “to wait for.” This construction is often used when specifying the person or thing for which you are waiting. For instance, “Estoy esperando a mi amigo” translates to “I am waiting for my friend.”
Another related phrase is “esperar por,” which also means “to wait for.” However, “esperar por” is more commonly used when the wait is indefinite or when the person is waiting for a specific event to happen. For example, “Estoy esperando por la lluvia” means “I am waiting for the rain.”
In some cases, the act of waiting can be described using the noun “espera,” which means “wait” or “waiting.” This noun is often used in more formal or literary contexts. For example, “La espera fue larga” translates to “The wait was long.”
In conclusion, “esperar” is the Spanish verb for “wait,” and it can be conjugated in various forms to express the act of waiting in different situations. Whether you’re waiting for a friend, a bus, or a specific event, knowing how to use “esperar” and its related phrases will help you communicate effectively in Spanish.
