paciencia
Patience; the capacity to accept delay or suffering without annoyance.
Patience is the quiet strength to endure waiting or hardship without getting angry.
Word in 30 Seconds
- The ability to stay calm during delays.
- Essential for handling difficult people or situations.
- Often used with the verbs to have or to lose.
Summary
Patience is the quiet strength to endure waiting or hardship without getting angry.
- The ability to stay calm during delays.
- Essential for handling difficult people or situations.
- Often used with the verbs to have or to lose.
Use the phrase armarse de paciencia
This is a very natural idiom meaning to prepare yourself mentally for a long wait. It makes your Spanish sound much more native.
Don't confuse with adjective
Remember that 'paciencia' is the noun (patience), while 'paciente' is the adjective (patient) or the noun for a hospital patient.
Patience in Hispanic culture
In many Spanish-speaking countries, social interactions are often relaxed. Patience is considered a highly valued trait in social and family life.
Examples
4 of 4Ten paciencia, el autobús llegará pronto.
Have patience, the bus will arrive soon.
Le agradezco su paciencia durante este proceso de espera.
I thank you for your patience during this waiting process.
¡Se me acabó la paciencia contigo!
I've run out of patience with you!
La paciencia es una virtud necesaria para la investigación científica.
Patience is a necessary virtue for scientific research.
Word Family
Memory Tip
Think of a 'patient' (paciente) in a hospital waiting room; they need a lot of 'paciencia' to get better. This connects the adjective and the noun.
Overview
La paciencia es un sustantivo femenino derivado del latín 'patientia'. Se refiere a la facultad de soportar contratiempos o esperas prolongadas con una actitud serena. Es una habilidad emocional clave en la comunicación y el desarrollo personal. 2) Usage Patterns: Se utiliza frecuentemente con el verbo 'tener' (tener paciencia) o 'perder' (perder la paciencia). También es común encontrarla en construcciones como 'armarse de paciencia', que implica prepararse psicológicamente para una tarea larga o tediosa. 3) Common Contexts: Es muy común escucharla en entornos laborales cuando hay mucha carga de trabajo, en la crianza de los hijos, o simplemente cuando alguien debe esperar en una fila larga. También se usa en consejos: 'Ten paciencia, todo saldrá bien'. 4) Similar Words comparison: A diferencia de la 'tolerancia', que implica aceptar ideas o comportamientos ajenos, la 'paciencia' se centra específicamente en la gestión del tiempo y la adversidad personal. Mientras que la 'calma' describe un estado momentáneo, la 'paciencia' es una disposición constante del carácter.
Usage Notes
Paciencia is used in both formal and informal contexts. It is a very common word in daily life. Avoid using it in plural form, as it is almost exclusively used as an uncountable noun.
Common Mistakes
Beginners often confuse it with the adjective 'paciente'. Ensure you use 'tener' before 'paciencia' instead of 'ser'. Also, do not try to pluralize it as 'paciencias', as it sounds unnatural.
Memory Tip
Think of a 'patient' (paciente) in a hospital waiting room; they need a lot of 'paciencia' to get better. This connects the adjective and the noun.
Word Origin
Derived from the Latin 'patientia', which comes from the verb 'pati' meaning to suffer or endure. It reflects the idea of bearing difficulty without complaint.
Cultural Context
In Spanish-speaking cultures, patience is often linked to the value of 'sobremesa' and relaxed social pacing. It is seen as a sign of maturity and respect toward others.
Examples
Ten paciencia, el autobús llegará pronto.
everydayHave patience, the bus will arrive soon.
Le agradezco su paciencia durante este proceso de espera.
formalI thank you for your patience during this waiting process.
¡Se me acabó la paciencia contigo!
informalI've run out of patience with you!
La paciencia es una virtud necesaria para la investigación científica.
academicPatience is a necessary virtue for scientific research.
Word Family
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
Tener mucha paciencia
To have a lot of patience
Se me acaba la paciencia
My patience is running out
Paciencia infinita
Infinite patience
Often Confused With
Paciente is an adjective (patient) or a noun referring to someone receiving medical care. Paciencia is the abstract noun for the quality itself.
Grammar Patterns
Use the phrase armarse de paciencia
This is a very natural idiom meaning to prepare yourself mentally for a long wait. It makes your Spanish sound much more native.
Don't confuse with adjective
Remember that 'paciencia' is the noun (patience), while 'paciente' is the adjective (patient) or the noun for a hospital patient.
Patience in Hispanic culture
In many Spanish-speaking countries, social interactions are often relaxed. Patience is considered a highly valued trait in social and family life.
Test Yourself
Completa la frase con la palabra correcta.
Debes tener ___ para aprender un nuevo idioma.
Se necesita el sustantivo después del verbo tener.
Elige la opción que significa lo mismo que perder la paciencia.
Juan ___ la paciencia en el tráfico.
La expresión correcta es perder la paciencia.
Ordena la frase correctamente.
paciencia / mucha / tienes / tú
Sujeto + verbo + objeto directo.
Score: /3
Frequently Asked Questions
4 questionsPuedes decir 'Necesito tener mucha paciencia con este proyecto'. Es la forma más común de expresar que requieres calma.
Significa que alguien se ha enfadado o se ha frustrado tras esperar demasiado. Es el opuesto directo a mantener la calma.
No, es un sustantivo abstracto incontable. Generalmente no se usa en plural.
El adjetivo es 'paciente'. Por ejemplo: 'Él es un profesor muy paciente'.
This Word in Other Languages
Related Grammar Rules
Related Phrases
Related Vocabulary
More emotions words
abatido
B1Feeling or showing great sadness or discouragement; dejected.
abatimiento
B2State of being low in spirits; dejection or depression.
abatir
B1To make someone feel dejected or disheartened.
abierto/a de mente
B2Open-minded; willing to consider new ideas; unprejudiced.
aborrecer
B1To regard with disgust and hatred; to loathe.
abrazar
A1To put one's arms around someone as a sign of affection.
abrazo
A1An act of holding someone closely in one's arms; a hug.
abrumador
B1Overpowering; very great or intense.
abrumar
B1To overwhelm (someone) with a large amount of something.
aburrida
A2Bored or boring (for a female).
