Signification
A polite request for someone to pause their action or delay.
Contexte culturel
In Spain, people are very direct. You might hear 'Espera' without 'Por favor' among friends, and it isn't considered rude—it's just efficient. Politeness is highly valued. You will almost always hear 'por favor' or the diminutive 'esperame tantito' to soften the command. Argentines often use 'bancame' (from 'bancar' - to support/hold) as a slang alternative to 'espera'. In many regions, 'regáleme un momento' (give me a moment) is used instead of 'espera' to be extra polite, even though nothing is being 'gifted'.
The 'T' Rule
If you want to sound more like a native, add a 'te' to the end: 'Espérate'. It sounds more natural in casual conversation.
Don't over-wait
In some cultures, 'espera' can be a polite way to say 'no'. If someone keeps telling you to wait without a specific time, they might be avoiding the task.
Signification
A polite request for someone to pause their action or delay.
The 'T' Rule
If you want to sound more like a native, add a 'te' to the end: 'Espérate'. It sounds more natural in casual conversation.
Don't over-wait
In some cultures, 'espera' can be a polite way to say 'no'. If someone keeps telling you to wait without a specific time, they might be avoiding the task.
The Hand Gesture
In Spain and LatAm, accompany this phrase with a raised hand (palm out) to ensure you are heard in noisy environments.
Teste-toi
You are talking to your best friend. Which one is correct?
______, espera un momento.
'Por favor' is the standard way to make a request polite.
Fill in the correct form of the verb 'esperar' for a formal situation (usted).
Por favor, _______ (usted) en la recepción.
The formal imperative for 'AR' verbs ends in 'e'.
Complete the dialogue.
A: ¡Date prisa! El bus viene. B: ¡Por favor, _______! No encuentro mi billete.
B is asking A to wait using the informal command.
Match the phrase to the context.
Context: You are talking to a group of friends in Madrid.
In Spain, 'esperad' is the informal plural command.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Ways to say 'Wait'
Informal
- • Espera
- • Espérate
- • Dame un segundo
Formal
- • Espere
- • Aguarde
- • Un momento, por favor
Banque d exercices
4 exercices______, espera un momento.
'Por favor' is the standard way to make a request polite.
Por favor, _______ (usted) en la recepción.
The formal imperative for 'AR' verbs ends in 'e'.
A: ¡Date prisa! El bus viene. B: ¡Por favor, _______! No encuentro mi billete.
B is asking A to wait using the informal command.
Context: You are talking to a group of friends in Madrid.
In Spain, 'esperad' is the informal plural command.
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsNo, the 'por favor' makes it polite. However, the 'tú' form 'espera' should only be used with people you know or in casual settings.
'Esperar' is common and everyday. 'Aguardar' is formal, slightly old-fashioned, and often used in writing or formal announcements.
It's better to say 'Espérame'. Adding 'por mí' is a literal translation from English and sounds a bit clunky in Spanish.
In Latin America, say 'Por favor, esperen'. In Spain, use 'Por favor, esperad'.
The verb 'esperar' means both, but in the command form 'espera', it almost always means 'wait'. 'Hope' is usually expressed as 'espero que...'.
It's the reflexive form. It often means 'wait up' or 'hold on a second' and is very common in informal speech.
Yes, but use the formal 'Por favor, espere' if it's a professional email to someone you don't know well.
The diminutive '-ito' makes the request sound smaller and less like an order, which is a common politeness strategy in Spanish.
Yes, 'aguanta' or 'bancame' are common slang terms for 'wait' in different regions.
Say 'esperar el autobús'. You don't need a preposition like 'for' in Spanish.
Expressions liées
Espera un momento
similarWait a moment
¡Para!
contrastStop!
Dame un segundo
informalGive me a second
Aguarde, por favor
specialized formPlease wait (formal)
