Esperar: to wait, to hope, to expect
Pronunciation: ehs-peh-RAHR (stress the capital letters)
Esperar means “to wait, to hope, to expect” in English.
Quick answer
- Meaning: to wait, to hope, to expect
- How to say it: ehs-peh-RAHR
- Present: yo espero, tú esperas
- Level: Elementary (A2)
What “esperar” means and how to use it
Esperar means “to wait for,” “to hope,” and “to expect.” The meaning depends on the sentence.
How to conjugate “esperar”
| Who | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| yo | espero | I |
| tú | esperas | you (informal) |
| él, ella, usted | espera | he, she, you (formal) |
| nosotros | esperamos | we |
| ellos, ustedes | esperan | they, you all |
| Past (preterite) | yo esperé, él esperó | I / he or she |
| Past participle | esperado | used with haber |
Examples with audio
- Espero el autobús.I am waiting for the bus.
- Espero que estés bien.I hope you are well.
- Mi hermana espera un bebé.My sister is expecting a baby.
Usage tip
Never add “por” or “para” after esperar when it means “to wait for”: espero a mi amigo. With “hope,” use esperar que plus the subjunctive: espero que vengas.
Frequently asked questions
How do you say “to wait, to hope, to expect” in Spanish?
“to wait, to hope, to expect” in Spanish is “esperar.” It is pronounced ehs-peh-RAHR, with the stress on the syllable in capital letters.
How do you pronounce “esperar”?
Say ehs-peh-RAHR. The syllable in capital letters gets the stress. Press the speaker button at the top of this page to hear it.
What is the past tense of “esperar”?
In the preterite, “yo” is “esperé” and “él” is “esperó.” The past participle is “esperado.”
Practice “esperar” for free
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