Verb
/es.peˈɾaɾ/
"Esperar" is a versatile verb in Spanish that primarily means to wait for or to expect something or someone. It's frequently used in both oral and written contexts, making it a common term in everyday conversation as well as in literature, legal documents, and technical writings. The word is quite frequent in the Spanish language, as it expresses a fundamental concept of time and anticipation.
"Esperar" is widely utilized in both spoken and written Spanish.
Esperar su turno en la fila es una parte difícil de la paciencia.
(Waiting for your turn in line is a difficult part of patience.)
Ella espera que llueva mañana para poder usar su paraguas nuevo.
(She hopes it will rain tomorrow so she can use her new umbrella.)
Debemos esperar los resultados antes de tomar una decisión.
(We should wait for the results before making a decision.)
"Esperar" is featured in various idiomatic expressions within Spanish, reflecting its deep-rooted presence in the language.
Esperar lo mejor y prepararse para lo peor. (Hope for the best and prepare for the worst.)
A quien espera, Dios le ayuda. (God helps those who wait.)
No hay que esperar a que las cosas pasen, hay que hacer que pasen. (One shouldn’t wait for things to happen; one should make things happen.)
Se dice que el que espera, desespera. (It is said that he who waits, despairs.)
No hay tiempo que esperar. (There’s no time to wait.)
A esperar que las aguas se calmen. (To wait for the waters to calm down.)
The word "esperar" comes from the Latin "sperāre," which means "to hope" or "to expect." The transformation from Latin to Spanish involved phonetic and morphological changes that preserved its essential meanings while adapting to the structure of the Spanish language.