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esperar
From Wiktionary, the free dictionary
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Asturian
Etymology
Verb
esperar (first-person singular indicative present espero, past participle esperáu)
Conjugation
Conjugation of esperar
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Catalan
Etymology
Pronunciation
Verb
esperar (first-person singular present espero, first-person singular preterite esperí, past participle esperat); root stress: (Central, Valencia, Balearic) /e/
Conjugation
Derived terms
Related terms
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
- “esperar” in Diccionari català-valencià-balear, Antoni Maria Alcover and Francesc de Borja Moll, 1962.
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Galician
Alternative forms
Etymology
Etymology tree
Inherited from Old Galician-Portuguese asperar, from Latin spērō, from spēs or -ō.
Pronunciation
Verb
esperar (first-person singular present espero, first-person singular preterite esperei, past participle esperado)
Conjugation
1Less recommended.
Related terms
References
- “esperar”, in Dicionario da Real Academia Galega (in Galician), A Coruña: Royal Galician Academy, 2012–2025
- 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), 2014–2025
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Ido
Etymology
Borrowed from Esperanto esperi, French espérer, Italian sperare, Spanish esperar, all from Latin spērō.
Pronunciation
Verb
esperar (present tense esperas, past tense esperis, future tense esperos, imperative esperez, conditional esperus)
- to hope
Conjugation
Derived terms
- desesperigar (“to drive to despair; to dishearten, depress, despond”)
Occitan
Etymology
From Old Occitan esperar, inherited from Latin spērāre.
Pronunciation
Verb
esperar
Conjugation
Lengadocian (Central Occitan)
Auvernhàs
Gascon
Lemosin
ProvençauRelated terms
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Old Spanish
Alternative forms
Etymology
Verb
esperar
- 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.
- 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.
- 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
References
- Coromines, Joan; Pascual, José Antonio (1984), “esperar”, in Diccionario crítico etimológico castellano e hispánico [Critical Castilian and Hispanic etymological dictionary] (in Spanish), volume II (Ce–F), Madrid: Gredos, →ISBN, page 740
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Portuguese
Etymology
Etymology tree
Inherited from Old Galician-Portuguese asperar, from Latin spērō, from spēs or -ō.
Pronunciation
Verb
esperar (first-person singular present espero, first-person singular preterite esperei, past participle esperado)
- to wait
- (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
- (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
- (transitive or intransitive) to wait (for); to await [with direct object or por ‘something’]
- to hope
- (intransitive) to hope for (to really want) [with por ‘something’]
- Eles esperam pelo fim da guerra. ― They hope for the end of the war.
- (transitive) to hope [with que (+ subjunctive clause) ‘that someone does something’]
- Espero que gostes do presente. ― I hope you like the gift.
- (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.
- (intransitive) to hope for (to really want) [with por ‘something’]
- 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
1Brazilian Portuguese.
2European Portuguese.
Related terms
Further reading
- “esperar”, in Dicionário Aulete Digital (in Portuguese), Rio de Janeiro: Lexikon Editora Digital, 2008–2025
- “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, 2008–2025
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Spanish
Alternative forms
- perar (aphetic, colloquial)
Etymology
From Old Spanish esperar, inherited from Latin spērāre.
Pronunciation
Verb
esperar (first-person singular present espero, first-person singular preterite esperé, past participle esperado)
- (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.
- (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.
- (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.
- (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!
- (reflexive, impersonal) to be expected
- Se espera que el huracán llegue mañana. ― The hurricane is expected to come tomorrow.
Conjugation
These forms are generated automatically and may not actually be used. Pronoun usage varies by region.
Derived terms
Related terms
See also
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
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