esperar

Asturian

Etymology

Inherited from Latin spērāre.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /espeˈɾaɾ/ [es.peˈɾaɾ]
• Rhymes: -aɾ
• Syllabification: es‧pe‧rar

Verb

esperar (first-person singular indicative present espero, past participle esperáu)

1. to wait
2. to hope
3. to expect

Conjugation

Conjugation of esperar

infinitive		esperar
gerund		esperando
past participle		m esperáu, f esperada, n esperao, m pl esperaos, f pl esperaes
person		first singular yo	second singular tu	third singular él/elli	first plural nosotros/nós	second plural vosotros/vós	third plural ellos
indicative	present	espero	esperes	espera	esperamos	esperáis	esperen
	imperfect	esperaba	esperabes	esperaba	esperábemos, esperábamos	esperabeis, esperabais	esperaben
	preterite	esperé	esperasti, esperesti	esperó	esperemos	esperastis, esperestis	esperaron
	pluperfect	esperare, esperara	esperares, esperaras	esperare, esperara	esperáremos, esperáramos	esperareis, esperarais	esperaren, esperaran
	future	esperaré	esperarás	esperará	esperaremos	esperaréis	esperarán
	conditional	esperaría	esperaríes	esperaría	esperaríemos, esperaríamos	esperaríeis, esperaríais	esperaríen
subjunctive	present	espere	esperes, esperas	espere	esperemos	esperéis	esperen, esperan
	imperfect	esperare, esperara	esperares, esperaras	esperare, esperara	esperáremos, esperáramos	esperareis, esperarais	esperaren, esperaran
imperative		—	espera	—	—	esperái	—

Further reading

• García Arias, Xosé Lluis (2002–2004), “esperar”, in Diccionario general de la lengua asturiana [General Dictionary of the Asturian Language] (overall work in Spanish), Editorial Prensa Asturiana, →ISBN
• “esperar”, in Diccionariu de la llingua asturiana [Dictionary of the Asturian Language] (in Asturian), 1st edition, Academy of the Asturian Language [Asturian: Academia de la Llingua Asturiana], 2000, →ISBN

Catalan

Etymology

Inherited from Latin spērāre.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): (Northern, Balearic, Central) [əs.pəˈɾa]
• IPA^(key): (Valencia) [es.peˈɾaɾ]
• IPA^(key): (Northwestern) [es.peˈɾa]

• Audio (Catalonia):

  (file)

• Rhymes: -a(ɾ)

Verb

esperar (first-person singular present espero, first-person singular preterite esperí, past participle esperat); root stress: (Northern) /e̞/; (Balearic, Central, Northwestern, Valencia) /e/

1. to wait, wait for, await
2. to hope
3. to expect
4. (pronominal) to expect

Conjugation

    Central Catalan conjugation of esperar (first conjugation)

infinitive			esperar
gerund			esperant
past participle				masculine		feminine
		singular		esperat		esperada
		plural		esperats		esperades
person		singular			plural
		first	second	third	first	second	third
indicative		jo	tu	ell/ella vostè	nosaltres nós	vosaltres vós	ells/elles vostès
	present	espero	esperes	espera	esperem	espereu	esperen
	imperfect	esperava	esperaves	esperava	esperàvem	esperàveu	esperaven
	future	esperaré	esperaràs	esperarà	esperarem	esperareu	esperaran
	preterite	esperí	esperares	esperà	esperàrem	esperàreu	esperaren
	conditional	esperaria	esperaries	esperaria	esperaríem	esperaríeu	esperarien
subjunctive		jo	tu	ell/ella vostè	nosaltres nós	vosaltres vós	ells/elles vostès
	present	esperi	esperis	esperi	esperem	espereu	esperin
	imperfect	esperés	esperessis	esperés	esperéssim	esperéssiu	esperessin
imperative		—	tu	vostè	nosaltres	vosaltres vós	vostès
	affirmative	—	espera	esperi	esperem	espereu	esperin
	negative (no)	—	no esperis	no esperi	no esperem	no espereu	no esperin

Derived terms

• desesperar
• esperar-se

Related terms

• esperança

Further reading

• “esperar”, in Diccionari de la llengua catalana [Dictionary of the Catalan Language] (in Catalan), second edition, Institute of Catalan Studies [Catalan: Institut d'Estudis Catalans], April 2007
• Alcover, Antoni Maria; Moll, Francesc de Borja (1963), “esperar”, in Diccionari català-valencià-balear (in Catalan)

Galician

Alternative forms

• asperar

Etymology

Etymology tree

Proto-Indo-European *speh₁-

Proto-Indo-European *-s

Proto-Indo-European *spéh₁s

Proto-Italic *spēs

Old Latin spēs

Proto-Indo-European *-h₂

Proto-Indo-European *-éh₂

Proto-Indo-European *-yéti

Proto-Indo-European *-eh₂yéti

Proto-Indo-European *-h₂tiinflu.

Proto-Italic *-ājō

Proto-Italic *-āō

Old Latin -ō

Old Latin *spēsō

Latin spērāre

Old Galician-Portuguese asperar

Galician esperar

Inherited from Old Galician-Portuguese asperar, from Latin spērāre, from Old Latin *spēsō, from spēs (“hope”) + -ō (verbal suffix).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /espeˈɾaɾ/ [es̺.peˈɾaɾ]
• Rhymes: -aɾ
• Hyphenation: es‧pe‧rar

Verb

esperar (first-person singular present espero, first-person singular preterite esperei, past participle esperado)

1. to wait

   Synonym: agardar

2. to hope

Conjugation

    Conjugation of esperar

	Singular			Plural
	First-person (eu)	Second-person (ti)	Third-person (el / ela / Vde.)	First-person (nós)	Second-person (vós)	Third-person (eles / elas / Vdes.)
Infinitive
Impersonal	esperar
Personal	esperar	esperares	esperar	esperarmos	esperardes	esperaren
Gerund
	esperando
Past participle
Masculine	esperado			esperados
Feminine	esperada			esperadas
Indicative
Present	espero	esperas	espera	esperamos	esperades	esperan
Imperfect	esperaba	esperabas	esperaba	esperabamos	esperabades	esperaban
Preterite	esperei	esperaches	esperou	esperamos	esperastes	esperaron
Pluperfect	esperara	esperaras	esperara	esperaramos	esperarades	esperaran
Future	esperarei	esperarás	esperará	esperaremos	esperaredes	esperarán
Conditional	esperaría	esperarías	esperaría	esperariamos	esperariades	esperarían
Subjunctive
Present	espere	esperes	espere	esperemos	esperedes	esperen
Imperfect	esperase	esperases	esperase	esperásemos	esperásedes	esperasen
Future	esperar	esperares	esperar	esperarmos	esperardes	esperaren
Imperative
Affirmative		espera	espere	esperemos	esperade	esperen
Negative (non)		non esperes	non espere	non esperemos	non esperedes	non esperen

    Reintegrated conjugation of esperar (See Appendix:Reintegrationism)

	Singular			Plural
	First-person (eu)	Second-person (ti / tu)	Third-person (ele / ela / você)	First-person (nós)	Second-person (vós)	Third-person (eles / elas / vocês)
Infinitive
Impersonal	esperar
Personal	esperar	esperares	esperar	esperarmos	esperardes	esperarem
Gerund
	esperando
Past participle
Masculine	esperado			esperados
Feminine	esperada			esperadas
Indicative
Present	espero	esperas	espera	esperamos	esperades, esperais	esperam
Imperfect	esperava	esperavas	esperava	esperávamos	esperávades, esperáveis, esperávais1	esperavam
Preterite	esperei	esperaste, esperache1	esperou	esperamos	esperastes	esperárom, esperaram
Pluperfect	esperara	esperaras	esperara	esperáramos	esperárades, esperáreis, esperárais1	esperaram
Future	esperarei	esperarás	esperará	esperaremos	esperaredes, esperareis	esperarám, esperarão
Conditional	esperaria	esperarias	esperaria	esperaríamos	esperaríades, esperaríeis, esperaríais1	esperariam
Subjunctive
Present	espere	esperes	espere	esperemos	esperedes, espereis	esperem
Imperfect	esperasse	esperasses	esperasse	esperássemos	esperássedes, esperásseis	esperassem
Future	esperar	esperares	esperar	esperarmos	esperardes	esperarem
Imperative
Affirmative		espera	espere	esperemos	esperade, esperai	esperem
Negative (nom)		nom esperes	nom espere	nom esperemos	nom esperedes, nom espereis	nom esperem

¹Less recommended.

Related terms

• espera
• esperanza

References

• “esperar”, in Dicionario da Real Academia Galega (in Galician), A Coruña: Royal Galician Academy, 2012–2026
• Antón Luís Santamarina Fernández, editor (2006–2013), “esperar”, in Dicionario de Dicionarios da lingua galega [Dictionary of Dictionaries of the Galician language] (in Galician), Santiago de Compostela: Instituto da Lingua Galega
• Antón Luís Santamarina Fernández, Ernesto Xosé González Seoane, María Álvarez de la Granja, editors (2003–2018), “esperar”, in Tesouro informatizado da lingua galega (in Galician), Santiago de Compostela: Instituto da Lingua Galega
• Rosario Álvarez Blanco, editor (2014–2024), “esperar”, in Tesouro do léxico patrimonial galego e portugués (in Galician), Santiago de Compostela: Instituto da Lingua Galega, →ISSN
• “esperar”, in Dicionário Estraviz de galego (in Galician), 2014–2026

Ido

Etymology

Borrowed from Esperanto esperi, French espérer, Italian sperare, Spanish esperar, all from Latin spērō.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /espeˈrar/

Verb

esperar (present tense esperas, past tense esperis, future tense esperos, imperative esperez, conditional esperus)

1. to hope

Conjugation

Conjugation of esperar

		present		past		future
infinitive		esperar		esperir		esperor
tense		esperas		esperis		esperos
conditional		esperus		—		—
imperative		esperez		—		—
adjective active participle		esperanta		esperinta		esperonta
adverbial active participle		esperante		esperinte		esperonte
nominal active participle	singular	esperanto		esperinto		esperonto
	plural	esperanti		esperinti		esperonti
adjective passive participle		esperata		esperita		esperota
adverbial passive participle		esperate		esperite		esperote
nominal passive participle	singular	esperato		esperito		esperoto
	plural	esperati		esperiti		esperoti

Derived terms

• desesperigar (“to drive to despair; to dishearten, depress, despond”)

Occitan

Etymology

From Old Occitan esperar, from Latin spērāre.

Pronunciation

• Audio (Béarn):

  (file)

Verb

esperar

1. to hope
2. to wait

Conjugation

    Lengadocian (Central Occitan)

		simple			compound
infinitive		esperar			aver esperat
gerund		esperant			use gerund of aver + past participle
past participle		esperat			—
person		singular			plural
		first	second	third	first	second	third
indicative		ieu	tu	el	nosautres	vosautres	eles
	present	esperi	esperas	espera	esperam	esperatz	esperan
	imperfect	esperavi	esperavas	esperava	esperàvem	esperàvetz	esperavan
	preterite	esperèri	esperères	esperèt	esperèrem	esperèretz	esperèron
	future	esperarai	esperaràs	esperarà	esperarem	esperaretz	esperaràn
	conditional	esperariái	esperariás	esperariá	esperariam	esperariatz	esperarián
	conditional 2nd form1	esperèra	esperèras	esperèra	espereram	espereratz	esperèran
compound tenses	present perfect	use the present tense of aver + past participle
	pluperfect	use the imperfect tense of aver + past participle
	past anterior	use the preterite tense of aver + past participle
	future perfect	use the future tense of aver + past participle
	conditional perfect	use the conditional tense of aver + past participle
subjunctive		que ieu	que tu	que el	que nosautres	que vosautres	que eles
	present	espere	esperes	espere	esperem	esperetz	esperen
	imperfect	esperèssi	esperèsses	esperèsse	esperèssem	esperèssetz	esperèsson
compound tenses	past	use the present subjunctive of aver + past participle
	pluperfect	use the imperfect subjunctive of aver + past participle
imperative		—	tu	—	nosautres	vosautres	—
			espera		esperem	esperatz	1Now chiefly obsolete, still in use in some Limousin and Vivaro-Alpin dialects

    Auvernhàs

		simple			compound
infinitive		esperar			aver esperat
gerund		esperant			use gerund of aver + past participle
past participle		esperat			—
person		singular			plural
		first	second	third	first	second	third
indicative		ieu	tu	el	nosautres	vosautres	eles
	present	espere	esperes	espera	esperam	esperatz	esperon
	imperfect	esperave	esperaves	esperava	esperaviam	esperaviatz	esperavon
	preterite	esperere	espereres	esperet	esperem	esperetz	espereron
	future	esperarai	esperaràs	esperará	esperarem	esperaretz	esperarán
	conditional	esperariá	esperariás	esperariá	esperariam	esperariatz	esperarián
	conditional 2nd form1	esperèra	esperèras	esperèra	espereram	espereratz	esperèran
compound tenses	present perfect	use the present tense of aver + past participle
	pluperfect	use the imperfect tense of aver + past participle
	past anterior	use the preterite tense of aver + past participle
	future perfect	use the future tense of aver + past participle
	conditional perfect	use the conditional tense of aver + past participle
subjunctive		que ieu	que tu	que el	que nosautres	que vosautres	que eles
	present	espere	esperes	espere	esperassiam	esperassiatz	esperon
	imperfect	esperesse	esperesses	esperesse	esperessiam	esperessiatz	esperesson
compound tenses	past	use the present subjunctive of aver + past participle
	pluperfect	use the imperfect subjunctive of aver + past participle
imperative		—	tu	—	nosautres	vosautres	—
			espera		esperassiam	esperatz	1Now chiefly obsolete, still in use in some Limousin and Vivaro-Alpin dialects

    Gascon

		simple			compound
infinitive		esperar			aver esperat
gerund		esperant			use gerund of aver + past participle
past participle		esperat			—
person		singular			plural
		first	second	third	first	second	third
indicative		ieu	tu	el	nosautres	vosautres	eles
	present	esperi	esperas	espera	esperam	esperatz	esperan
	imperfect	esperavi	esperavas	esperava	esperàvam	esperàvatz	esperavan
	preterite	esperèi	esperès	esperè	esperèm	esperètz	esperèn
	future	esperarèi	esperaràs	esperarà	esperaram	esperaratz	esperaràn
	conditional	esperarí	esperarés	esperaré	esperarem	esperaretz	esperarén
	conditional 2nd form1	esperèra	esperèras	esperèra	espereram	espereratz	esperèran
compound tenses	present perfect	use the present tense of aver + past participle
	pluperfect	use the imperfect tense of aver + past participle
	past anterior	use the preterite tense of aver + past participle
	future perfect	use the future tense of aver + past participle
	conditional perfect	use the conditional tense of aver + past participle
subjunctive		que ieu	que tu	que el	que nosautres	que vosautres	que eles
	present	esperi	esperes	espere	esperem	esperetz	esperen
	imperfect	esperèssi	esperèsses	esperèsse	esperèssem	esperèssetz	esperèssen
compound tenses	past	use the present subjunctive of aver + past participle
	pluperfect	use the imperfect subjunctive of aver + past participle
imperative		—	tu	—	nosautres	vosautres	—
			espera		esperem	esperatz	1Now chiefly obsolete, still in use in some Limousin and Vivaro-Alpin dialects

    Lemosin

		simple			compound
infinitive		esperar			aver esperat
gerund		esperant			use gerund of aver + past participle
past participle		esperat			—
person		singular			plural
		first	second	third	first	second	third
indicative		ieu	tu	el	nosautres	vosautres	eles
	present	espere	esperas	espera	esperam	esperatz	esperan
	imperfect	esperava	esperavas	esperava	esperàvam	esperàvatz	esperavan
	preterite	esperei	espereras	esperet	esperèram	esperèratz	espereran
	future	esperarai	esperaràs	esperará	esperarem	esperaretz	esperarán
	conditional	esperariá	esperariàs	esperariá	esperariam	esperariatz	esperarián
	conditional 2nd form1	esperèra	esperèras	esperèra	espereram	espereratz	esperèran
compound tenses	present perfect	use the present tense of aver + past participle
	pluperfect	use the imperfect tense of aver + past participle
	past anterior	use the preterite tense of aver + past participle
	future perfect	use the future tense of aver + past participle
	conditional perfect	use the conditional tense of aver + past participle
subjunctive		que ieu	que tu	que el	que nosautres	que vosautres	que eles
	present	espere	esperes	espere	esperem	esperetz	esperen
	imperfect	esperèsse	esperèsses	esperèsse	esperèssem	esperèssetz	esperèssen
compound tenses	past	use the present subjunctive of aver + past participle
	pluperfect	use the imperfect subjunctive of aver + past participle
imperative		—	tu	—	nosautres	vosautres	—
			espera		esperem	esperatz	1Now chiefly obsolete, still in use in some Limousin and Vivaro-Alpin dialects

    Provençau

		simple			compound
infinitive		esperar			aver esperat
gerund		esperant			use gerund of aver + past participle
past participle		esperat			—
person		singular			plural
		first	second	third	first	second	third
indicative		ieu	tu	el	nosautres	vosautres	eles
	present	espere	esperes	espera	esperam	esperatz	esperan
	imperfect	esperavi	esperavas	esperava	esperàvem	esperàvetz	esperavan
	preterite	esperère	esperères	esperèt	espereriam	espereriatz	esperèron
	future	esperarai	esperaràs	esperarà	esperarem	esperaretz	esperaràn
	conditional	esperariáu	esperariás	esperariá	esperariam	esperariatz	esperarián
	conditional 2nd form1	esperèra	esperèras	esperèra	espereram	espereratz	esperèran
compound tenses	present perfect	use the present tense of aver + past participle
	pluperfect	use the imperfect tense of aver + past participle
	past anterior	use the preterite tense of aver + past participle
	future perfect	use the future tense of aver + past participle
	conditional perfect	use the conditional tense of aver + past participle
subjunctive		que ieu	que tu	que el	que nosautres	que vosautres	que eles
	present	espere	esperes	espere	esperem	esperetz	esperan
	imperfect	esperèsse	esperèsses	esperèsse	esperessiam	esperessiatz	esperèsson
compound tenses	past	use the present subjunctive of aver + past participle
	pluperfect	use the imperfect subjunctive of aver + past participle
imperative		—	tu	—	nosautres	vosautres	—
			espera		esperem	esperatz	1Now chiefly obsolete, still in use in some Limousin and Vivaro-Alpin dialects

Related terms

• esperança

Old Spanish

Alternative forms

• asperar, sperar

Etymology

Inherited from Latin sperō, -āre.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /espeˈɾaɾ/

Verb

esperar

1. to wait for, await
   • c. 1200, Almerich, La fazienda de ultramar, (published by Moshé Lazar, 1965, Salamanca: Universidad de Salamanca, page 211):

     En est logar dize Ysayas de Messias que esperan los Judios e non conoscen com es venido.

     In this place, Isaiah speaks of the Messiah whom the Jews await, and whom they don't know he [already] came.

2. to hope, expect
   • c. 1280, Alfonso X, General Estoria, tercera parte, (published by Pedro Sánchez-Prieto Borja and Bautista Horcajada Diezma, 1994, Madrid: Gredos):

     mientre fían en los ídolos, que son cosas sin entendimiento e sin alma, juran mal, e esperan que les non nozirá.

     While putting trust in idols, which are things without understanding nor soul, they wrongly make oaths and expect it will not harm them.

3. to trust completely (in God)
   • c. 1280, Alfonso X, General Estoria, tercera parte, (published by Pedro Sánchez-Prieto Borja and Bautista Horcajada Diezma, 1994, Madrid: Gredos):

     Toda palabra de Dios es escudo fecho con fuego para los que esperan en él.

     The word of God is a shield made of fire for those who trust in Him.

Descendants

• Ladino: esperar / איספיראר, asperar / אספיראר
• Spanish: esperar

Further reading

• “esperar”, in Diccionario del español medieval electrónico [Electronic Dictionary of Medieval Spanish] (in Spanish, English, and German), Rostock University and Paderborn University, 2022–present

Portuguese

Etymology

Etymology tree

Proto-Indo-European *speh₁-

Proto-Indo-European *-s

Proto-Indo-European *spéh₁s

Proto-Italic *spēs

Old Latin spēs

Proto-Indo-European *-h₂

Proto-Indo-European *-éh₂

Proto-Indo-European *-yéti

Proto-Indo-European *-eh₂yéti

Proto-Indo-European *-h₂tiinflu.

Proto-Italic *-ājō

Proto-Italic *-āō

Old Latin -ō

Old Latin *spēsō

Latin spērāre

Old Galician-Portuguese asperar

Portuguese esperar

Inherited from Old Galician-Portuguese asperar, from Latin spērāre, from Old Latin *spēsō, from spēs (“hope”) + -ō (verbal suffix).

Pronunciation

 

• (Brazil) IPA^(key): /is.peˈɾa(ʁ)/ [is.peˈɾa(h)], /es.peˈɾa(ʁ)/ [es.peˈɾa(h)]

• (Brazil) IPA^(key): /is.peˈɾa(ʁ)/ [is.peˈɾa(h)], /es.peˈɾa(ʁ)/ [es.peˈɾa(h)]
  • (São Paulo) IPA^(key): /is.peˈɾa(ɾ)/, /es.peˈɾa(ɾ)/
  • (Rio de Janeiro) IPA^(key): /iʃ.peˈɾa(ʁ)/ [iʃ.peˈɾa(χ)], /eʃ.peˈɾa(ʁ)/ [eʃ.peˈɾa(χ)]
  • (Caipira) IPA^(key): /is.peˈɾa(ɻ)/, /es.peˈɾa(ɻ)/

 

• (Portugal) IPA^(key): /(i)ʃ.pɨˈɾaɾ/

• (Portugal) IPA^(key): /(i)ʃ.pɨˈɾaɾ/
  • (Southern Portugal) IPA^(key): /(i)ʃ.pɨˈɾa.ɾi/

• Audio (Portugal (Porto)):

  (file)

• Hyphenation: es‧pe‧rar

Verb

esperar (first-person singular present espero, first-person singular preterite esperei, past participle esperado)

1. to wait
   2. (transitive or intransitive) to wait (for); to await [with direct object or por ‘something’]

      Eu espero por sua resposta. ― I await your response.

      Fiquei esperando no carro. ― I waited in the car.

      Synonym: aguardar

   4. (catenative) to wait [with subject pronoun ‘for someone’ (optional) and personal infinitive ‘to do something’]

      Espere o João chegar. ― Wait for John to arrive.

      Espera que o João chegue. ― Wait for John to arrive.

      Synonym: aguardar

2. to hope
   2. (intransitive) to hope for (to really want) [with por ‘something’]

      Eles esperam pelo fim da guerra. ― They hope for the end of the war.

   4. (transitive) to hope [with que (+ subjunctive clause) ‘that someone does something’]

      Espero que gostes do presente. ― I hope you like the gift.

   6. (catenative) to hope [with infinitive ‘to do something’; or with subject pronoun ‘for someone’ (optional) and personal infinitive ‘to something’]

      Esperávamos comer alguma coisa hoje. ― We were hoping to eat something today.

4. to expect; to anticipate (to know or think that something will happen) [with direct object or por ‘something’]

   É melhor do que eu esperava. ― It is better than I expected.

   Eu já esperava por isso mesmo. ― I was expecting that anyway.

   Synonym: aguardar

Conjugation

    Conjugation of esperar (See Appendix:Portuguese verbs)

	Singular			Plural
	First-person (eu)	Second-person (tu)	Third-person (ele / ela / você)	First-person (nós)	Second-person (vós)	Third-person (eles / elas / vocês)
Infinitive
Impersonal	esperar
Personal	esperar	esperares	esperar	esperarmos	esperardes	esperarem
Gerund
	esperando
Past participle
Masculine	esperado			esperados
Feminine	esperada			esperadas
Indicative
Present	espero	esperas	espera	esperamos	esperais	esperam
Imperfect	esperava	esperavas	esperava	esperávamos	esperáveis	esperavam
Preterite	esperei	esperaste	esperou	esperamos1, esperámos2	esperastes	esperaram
Pluperfect	esperara	esperaras	esperara	esperáramos	esperáreis	esperaram
Future	esperarei	esperarás	esperará	esperaremos	esperareis	esperarão
Conditional	esperaria	esperarias	esperaria	esperaríamos	esperaríeis	esperariam
Subjunctive
Present	espere	esperes	espere	esperemos	espereis	esperem
Imperfect	esperasse	esperasses	esperasse	esperássemos	esperásseis	esperassem
Future	esperar	esperares	esperar	esperarmos	esperardes	esperarem
Imperative
Affirmative		espera	espere	esperemos	esperai	esperem
Negative (não)		não esperes	não espere	não esperemos	não espereis	não esperem

¹Brazilian Portuguese.
²European Portuguese.

Related terms

• desesperado
• desesperar
• desespero
• espera
• esperança
• esperançoso

Further reading

• “esperar”, in Dicionário Aulete Digital (in Portuguese), Rio de Janeiro: Lexikon Editora Digital, 2008–2026
• “esperar” in Dicionário Aberto based on Novo Diccionário da Língua Portuguesa de Cândido de Figueiredo, 1913
• “esperar”, in Dicionário Priberam da Língua Portuguesa (in Portuguese), Lisbon: Priberam, 2008–2026

Spanish

Alternative forms

• perar (aphetic, colloquial)

Etymology

Etymology tree

Proto-Indo-European *speh₁-

Proto-Indo-European *-s

Proto-Indo-European *spéh₁s

Proto-Italic *spēs

Old Latin spēs

Proto-Indo-European *-h₂

Proto-Indo-European *-éh₂

Proto-Indo-European *-yéti

Proto-Indo-European *-eh₂yéti

Proto-Indo-European *-h₂tiinflu.

Proto-Italic *-ājō

Proto-Italic *-āō

Old Latin -ō

Old Latin *spēsō

Latin sperō

Old Spanish esperar

Spanish esperar

From Old Spanish esperar, from Latin spērō, -āre (“to hope, await”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /espeˈɾaɾ/ [es.peˈɾaɾ]

• Audio (Mexico):

  (file)

• Rhymes: -aɾ
• Syllabification: es‧pe‧rar

Verb

esperar (first-person singular present espero, first-person singular preterite esperé, past participle esperado)

1. (transitive or catenative) to hope [with direct object ‘for something’ or infinitive ‘to do something’ or que (+ subjunctive clause) ‘that something happens’]

   Synonym: tener esperanza de que

   esperar con interés ― to look forward to, to eagerly await

   En vano esperaron mejores días. ― They hoped for better days in vain.

   Esperamos llegar a viejos juntos. ― We hope we'll grow old together.

   Ella espera ya estar casada cuando tenga treinta. ― She hopes she'll be already married when she's 30 years old.

   Espera que no sea necesario. ― He hopes it won't be necessary.

2. (transitive or catenative) to expect [with direct object ‘something’ or infinitive ‘to do something’ or que (+ indicative clause) ‘that something happens’]

   Synonym: anticipar

   Ellos esperan encontrar muchas dificultades. ― They expect to come across many hardships.

   Esperamos un clima adverso mañana. ― We're expecting unfavourable weather tomorrow.

   Los estudiantes esperan que no será fácil el examen. ― The students expect the exam won't be easy.

   Los huéspedes esperan que les ayudaremos. ― The guests expect we'll help them.

3. (intransitive or transitive) to wait, wait (for) [(optionally) with direct object ‘for something’ or a que (+ subjunctive clause) ‘for something to happen’]

   Por favor espera aquí. ― Please wait here.

   Te he esperado por media hora. ― I have waited for you for half an hour.

   Espero con ansias tu llegada. ― I am anxiously waiting for your arrival.

   ¡Espera a que la conozcas en persona! ― Wait till you meet her in person!

   Estamos esperando a que se suavice la lluvia. ― We're waiting for the rain to get less heavy.

4. (intransitive, reflexive, usually imperative, colloquial, Latin America) to wait, to hold on (reflexive for emphatic use)

   ¡Espera! ¡Espérate tantito! ― Wait! Hold on for a sec!

5. (reflexive, impersonal) to be expected

   Se espera que el huracán llegue mañana. ― The hurricane is expected to come tomorrow.

Conjugation

    Conjugation of esperar (See Appendix:Spanish verbs)

infinitive			esperar
gerund			esperando
past participle				masculine		feminine
		singular		esperado		esperada
		plural		esperados		esperadas
		singular			plural
		1st person	2nd person	3rd person	1st person	2nd person	3rd person
indicative		yo	tú vos	él/ella/ello usted	nosotros nosotras	vosotros vosotras	ellos/ellas ustedes
	present	espero	esperastú esperásvos	espera	esperamos	esperáis	esperan
	imperfect	esperaba	esperabas	esperaba	esperábamos	esperabais	esperaban
	preterite	esperé	esperaste	esperó	esperamos	esperasteis	esperaron
	future	esperaré	esperarás	esperará	esperaremos	esperaréis	esperarán
	conditional	esperaría	esperarías	esperaría	esperaríamos	esperaríais	esperarían
subjunctive		yo	tú vos	él/ella/ello usted	nosotros nosotras	vosotros vosotras	ellos/ellas ustedes
	present	espere	esperestú esperésvos2	espere	esperemos	esperéis	esperen
	imperfect (ra)	esperara	esperaras	esperara	esperáramos	esperarais	esperaran
	imperfect (se)	esperase	esperases	esperase	esperásemos	esperaseis	esperasen
	future1	esperare	esperares	esperare	esperáremos	esperareis	esperaren
imperative		—	tú vos	usted	nosotros nosotras	vosotros vosotras	ustedes
	affirmative		esperatú esperávos	espere	esperemos	esperad	esperen
	negative		no esperes	no espere	no esperemos	no esperéis	no esperen

¹Rare; now chiefly used in legal language.
²Argentine and Uruguayan voseo prefers the tuteo-form for the present subjunctive.

    Selected combined forms of esperar

These forms are generated automatically and may not actually be used. Pronoun usage varies by region.

		singular			plural
		1st person	2nd person	3rd person	1st person	2nd person	3rd person
with infinitive esperar	dative	esperarme	esperarte	esperarle, esperarse	esperarnos	esperaros	esperarles, esperarse
	accusative	esperarme	esperarte	esperarlo, esperarla, esperarse	esperarnos	esperaros	esperarlos, esperarlas, esperarse
with gerund esperando	dative	esperándome	esperándote	esperándole, esperándose	esperándonos	esperándoos	esperándoles, esperándose
	accusative	esperándome	esperándote	esperándolo, esperándola, esperándose	esperándonos	esperándoos	esperándolos, esperándolas, esperándose
with informal second-person singular tuteo imperative espera	dative	espérame	espérate	espérale	espéranos	not used	espérales
	accusative	espérame	espérate	espéralo, espérala	espéranos	not used	espéralos, espéralas
with informal second-person singular voseo imperative esperá	dative	esperame	esperate	esperale	esperanos	not used	esperales
	accusative	esperame	esperate	esperalo, esperala	esperanos	not used	esperalos, esperalas
with formal second-person singular imperative espere	dative	espéreme	not used	espérele, espérese	espérenos	not used	espéreles
	accusative	espéreme	not used	espérelo, espérela, espérese	espérenos	not used	espérelos, espérelas
with first-person plural imperative esperemos	dative	not used	esperémoste	esperémosle	esperémonos	esperémoos	esperémosles
	accusative	not used	esperémoste	esperémoslo, esperémosla	esperémonos	esperémoos	esperémoslos, esperémoslas
with informal second-person plural imperative esperad	dative	esperadme	not used	esperadle	esperadnos	esperaos	esperadles
	accusative	esperadme	not used	esperadlo, esperadla	esperadnos	esperaos	esperadlos, esperadlas
with formal second-person plural imperative esperen	dative	espérenme	not used	espérenle	espérennos	not used	espérenles, espérense
	accusative	espérenme	not used	espérenlo, espérenla	espérennos	not used	espérenlos, espérenlas, espérense

Derived terms

• de aquí te espero
• de esperar
• el tiempo y la marea ni se paran ni esperan

Related terms

• asperar
• desesperar
• espera
• esperable
• esperado
• esperanza

See also

• aguardar
• ojalá

Further reading

• “esperar”, in Diccionario de la lengua española [Dictionary of the Spanish Language] (in Spanish), online version 23.8.1, Royal Spanish Academy [Spanish: Real Academia Española], 15 December 2025
• “esperar”, in Diccionario panhispánico de dudas [Pan-Hispanic Dictionary of Doubts] (in Spanish), 2nd edition, Royal Spanish Academy [Spanish: Real Academia Española]; Association of Academies of the Spanish Language [Spanish: Asociación de Academias de la Lengua Española], 2023, →ISBN
• “esperar”, in Diccionario del estudiante [Student Dictionary] (in Spanish), third edition, Royal Spanish Academy [Spanish: Real Academia Española], 2016
• Seco, Manuel; Andrés, Olimpia; Ramos, Gabino (2023), “esperar”, in Diccionario del español actual [Dictionary of Current Spanish] (in Spanish), third digital edition, Fundación BBVA