Espere

You use espere whenever you need a moment before proceeding. This could be to find something, finish a thought, or simply catch your breath. Imagine you're rushing out the door and forgot your wallet. You'd shout, Espere! to the person waiting. Or perhaps you're on a video call and need to mute yourself quickly. You'd say, Um momento, espere um pouco. It’s about requesting a brief halt.

Espere is quite flexible. It can be used in most situations without sounding rude. With friends, it's casual. In a professional setting, it's polite and standard. If you want to be extra polite, you might add por favor (please) or use the full por favor, espere. It’s rarely considered impolite, unless you bark it out with an aggressive tone – but that's on you, not the word!

• Texting a friend: Já estou saindo, espere na porta! (I'm leaving now, wait at the door!)
• Ordering food: Espere um minuto, preciso confirmar o meu pedido. (Wait a minute, I need to confirm my order.)
• On a phone call: Pode espere um segundo? Preciso pegar uma coisa. (Can you wait a second? I need to grab something.)
• In a shop: Espere aqui, por favor. Vou buscar o seu tamanho. (Wait here, please. I'll get your size.)
• Reacting to a surprise: Espere! O que foi isso? (Wait! What was that?)

Use espere when you need someone to pause briefly. This applies to physical actions, conversations, or even just their attention. It's perfect for when you're running a bit late and want the other person to hold on. It's also great for asking for a moment to think or find information. If someone is about to leave, and you need them to stay, espere is your word. It’s the universal signal for 'hold on a sec'.

Avoid using espere if you need to be extremely formal or deferential, especially when addressing someone much older or in a very high-ranking position, where a more elaborate phrase might be better. Also, don't use it if you're demanding someone wait indefinitely without explanation; it can sound impatient. If you're asking someone to wait for a very long, unspecified time, a softer approach is usually better. It's not ideal for telling someone to wait for a life-changing decision; you'd use different phrasing then.

Learners sometimes confuse espere with other verbs or use it in slightly awkward ways. A common slip-up is using the infinitive esperar when the imperative is needed. Another is not adding por favor when the situation calls for extra politeness. You might also hear people saying espera instead of espere in some contexts, which can be confusing.

In Brazil, you'll often hear espera used informally, especially in spoken language, which is technically the você form but used very casually. Aguenta (hold on/bear with it) is another informal option, often used when asking someone to endure a short inconvenience. Aguarda is a more formal version, often seen in written instructions. In Portugal, espere is standard, and aguarde is also common in formal contexts. Fica aí (stay there) can also mean 'wait' in very casual settings.

• Is espere polite enough for a boss?
• Can I use espere in a text message?
• What's the difference between espere and aguarde?
• How do I tell someone to wait longer?