esperar

v.

1 to wait (for).

te esperaremos en el aeropuerto we'll meet you at the airport, we'll be waiting for you at the airport

esperar a que alguien haga algo to wait for somebody to do something

espera, que ya voy wait a minute, I'm coming

quien espera desespera (Prov) a watched pot never boils

Elsa espera pacientemente Elsa waits patiently.

2 to hope (tener esperanza de).

espero poder ayudar I hope I can be of some help

esperar que to hope that

espero que sí/no I hope so/not

esperar hacer algo to hope to do something

Esperamos que suceda lo mejor We hope for the best.

3 to expect (tener confianza en).

no esperábamos esta reacción we didn't expect this reaction

esperar algo de alguien to expect something from somebody, to hope for something from somebody

como era de esperar as was to be expected

Elsa espera un milagro Elsa expects a miracle.

4 to await, to be in store for (ser inevitable).

le esperan dificultades many difficulties await him

¡me espera una buena en casa! (informal) I'm in for it when I get home!

5 to wait for, to await, to wait.

Elsa espera el tren Elsa waits for the train.

6 to expect to, to look forward to, to hope to, to be expecting to.

Ellos esperan llegar pronto They hope to arrive soon.

7 to await for, to expect, to watch for.

Ellos esperan la noticia They await for the news.

Me espera una sorpresa A surprise awaits for me.

* * *

esperar

► verbo transitivo

1 (tener esperanza) to hope for, expect

■ esperan un milagro they're hoping for a miracle

■ esperar la gloria to hope for glory

2 (contar, creer) to expect

■ no te esperábamos hasta mañana we didn't expect you till tomorrow

■ llegaron tarde como era de esperar they arrived late as expected

3 (aguardar) to wait for, await

■ espera un momento wait a moment

■ espero a mi padre I'm waiting for my father

4 (desear) to hope

■ espero que cantes I hope you'll sing

■ espero verlo I hope to see him

5 (ser inevitable) to await, be ahead

■ mala noche nos espera there's a bad night ahead

6 figurado (bebé) to expect

► verbo intransitivo

1 to wait

■ esperaré hasta que lleguen I'll wait until they get here

► verbo pronominal esperarse

1 (aguardar) to wait

■ espérense en recepción please wait in reception

2 (creer, contar) to expect

■ se espera que seas puntual you're expected to be punctual

3 (desear) to hope

■ se espera que lo hayan pasado bien we hope you've had a good time

\

FRASEOLOGÍA

en espera de noticias tuyas we hope to hear from you soon

¡espérate sentado! don't hold your breath!, you'll be waiting till the cows come home!

espero que no I hope not

espero que sí I hope so

hacer esperar a alguien to keep somebody waiting

hacerse esperar to keep people waiting

quien espera desespera a watched pot never boils

* * *

verb

1) to wait for, await

2) expect

3) hope

•

- esperarse

* * *

1. VT

1) (=aguardar) [+ tren, persona] to wait for

estaba esperando el avión — I was waiting for the plane

esperaban noticias de los rehenes — they were waiting for o awaiting news of the hostages

fuimos a esperarla a la estación — we went to meet her at the station

nos espera un duro invierno — we've got a hard winter ahead of us

¡la que te espera cuando llegues a casa! — you're (in) for it when you get home!

de aquí te espero * —

un lío de aquí te espero — * a tremendous row *

dijo unas tonterías de aquí te espero — he said some really stupid things

2) (=desear) to hope

espero llegar a tiempo — I hope to arrive on time

eso espero — I hope so

han prometido castigar a los culpables y espero que sea así — they've promised to punish those responsible and I hope they will

-ya nos pagará -espero que sea así — "he'll pay us, you'll see" - "I hope you're right o I hope so"

espero que te haya gustado — I hope you liked it

espero que vengas — I hope you'll come

espero que no sea nada grave — I hope it isn't anything serious

-¿vienen a la fiesta? -espero que sí — "are they coming to the party?" - "I hope so"

-¿crees que se enfadará? -espero que no — "do you think she will be angry?" - "I hope not"

3) (=contar con) to expect

¿esperas visita? — are you expecting someone?

espero su llamada en cualquier momento — I expect his call at any moment

no me esperes antes de las siete — don't expect me before seven

¿acaso esperas que pague yo? — you're not expecting me to pay, are you?

llegaron antes de lo que yo esperaba — they arrived sooner than I expected

esperaban que les pidiera perdón — they were expecting him to apologize

¿qué esperas, que encima te lo agradezca? — don't expect me to thank you for it as well

¿qué puedes esperar de él, después de cómo se ha comportado? — what do you expect from him, after the way he has behaved?

• era de esperar — it was to be expected

era de esperar que eso sucediera — it was to be expected that that would happen

era de esperar que no viniera — it was to be expected that he wouldn't come

• no esperaba menos de ti — I expected nothing o no less of you

llamará cuando menos te lo esperes — he'll call when you least expect it

- esperar algo como agua de mayo

4) [+ bebé]

está esperando un hijo — she's expecting (a baby)

está esperando su primer hijo — she's expecting her first child

2. VI

1) (=aguardar) to wait

esperaré aquí — I'll wait here

¡espera un momento, este no es mi libro! — hold on o wait a minute, this isn't my book!

espera en la puerta, ahora mismo voy — wait at the door, I'm just coming

esperar a o hasta que algn haga algo — to wait for sb to do sth

• hacer esperar a algn — keep sb waiting

su respuesta no se hizo esperar — his answer wasn't long in coming

- esperar desesperando

- espera y verás

- puedes esperar sentado

- el que espera desespera

2)

• esperar en algn — to put one's hopes o trust in sb

esperar en Dios — to trust in God

3.

See:

esperarse

ESPERAR Esperar tiene en inglés varias traducciones, entre las que se encuentran wait (for), await, hope y expect. ► Se traduce por wait (for) cuando esperar se refiere al hecho de aguardar la llegada de alguien o de un suceso: Hice el examen hace dos meses y todavía estoy esperando los resultados I took the exam two months ago and I'm still waiting for the results La esperó media hora y después se fue a casa He waited half an hour for her and then went home ► El verbo await es un verbo de uso similar a wait for, aunque no requiere el uso de la preposición y no es muy corriente en inglés moderno: Esperaban ansiosamente la llegada del Rey They eagerly awaited the arrival of the King ► Se traduce por hope cuando deseamos que algo suceda, pero no estamos seguros de si ocurrirá o no: Espero que no se enfade mucho conmigo I hope (that) she won't be very annoyed with me Después de terminar la carrera espero conseguir un buen trabajo I hope to get a good job when I finish university ► Traducimos esperar por expect cuando estamos muy seguros de que algo va a suceder o cuando hay una razón lógica para que algo suceda: Espero aprobar porque el examen me salió muy bien I expect to pass o I expect I'll pass because the exam went very well Ha resultado mejor de lo que esperábamos It was better than we expected Está esperando un niño She's expecting (a baby) Para otros usos y ejemplos ver la entrada

* * *

1.

verbo transitivo

1)

a) <autobús/persona/acontecimiento> to wait for

la esperé dos horas — I waited for her for two hours

esperaban con impaciencia su llegada — they were really looking forward to her coming

le encanta hacerse esperar — he loves to keep people waiting

¿qué estás esperando para decírselo? — tell him! what are you waiting for?

no me esperes para cenar — don't wait for me to eat

b) (recibir) to meet

la fuimos a esperar al aeropuerto — we went to meet her at the airport

c) sorpresa to await

su reacción no se hizo esperar — he was swift to react

le espera un futuro difícil — he has a difficult future ahead of him

ya verás la que te espera en casa! — (fam) you'll catch it o you'll be for it when you get home! (colloq)

2)

a) (contar con, prever) to expect

tal como esperábamos — just as we expected

cuando uno menos lo espera — when you least expect it

te espero alrededor de las nueve — I'll expect you around nine

estoy esperando una llamada — I'm expecting a call

esperar que + subj: ¿esperabas que te felicitara? did you expect me to congratulate you?; era de esperar que el proyecto fracasara the project was bound to fail; no esperes que cambie de idea don't expect me to change my mind; esperar algo de alguien/algo to expect something of somebody/something; esperaba otra cosa de ti I expected more of you; de ella no puedes esperar ayuda — don't expect her to help

b) <niño/bebé> to be expecting

está esperando familia — she's expecting

3) (con esperanza) to hope

eso espero or espero que sí — I hope so

espero que no — I hope not

esperar + inf — to hope to + inf

espero no haberme olvidado de nada — I hope I haven't forgotten anything

esperar que + subj: espero que no llueva/que te guste I hope it doesn't rain/you like it; espero que tengas suerte I wish you luck; esperemos que no sea nada grave — let's hope it's nothing serious

2.

esperar vi

a) (aguardar) to wait

no podemos esperar más — we can't wait any longer

espera, que bajo contigo — wait a minute o (colloq) hold on, I'll come down with you

esperar a + inf: espera a estar seguro wait until you're sure; esperar (a) que + subj: esperaron (a) que él se fuera para entrar they waited for him to go before they went in; espera (a) que te llamen wait until they call you; esperar sentado (fam): si piensa que lo voy a llamar puede esperar sentado if he thinks I'm going to call him he's got another think coming (colloq); ¿que él cambie de idea? mejor espera sentada him change his mind? some hope!; quien espera desespera — waiting's the worst part

b) embarazada

estar esperando — to be expecting

¿para cuándo espera? — when's the baby due?

3.

esperarse v pron

1) (fam) (aguardar) to hang on (colloq), to hold on (colloq)

espérate ¿no ves que estoy ocupada? — wait a minute! can't you see I'm busy?

2) (fam) (prever) to expect

no me esperaba eso de él — I didn't expect that of o from him

quién se lo iba a esperar! — who would have thought it!

* * *

1.

verbo transitivo

1)

a) <autobús/persona/acontecimiento> to wait for

la esperé dos horas — I waited for her for two hours

esperaban con impaciencia su llegada — they were really looking forward to her coming

le encanta hacerse esperar — he loves to keep people waiting

¿qué estás esperando para decírselo? — tell him! what are you waiting for?

no me esperes para cenar — don't wait for me to eat

b) (recibir) to meet

la fuimos a esperar al aeropuerto — we went to meet her at the airport

c) sorpresa to await

su reacción no se hizo esperar — he was swift to react

le espera un futuro difícil — he has a difficult future ahead of him

ya verás la que te espera en casa! — (fam) you'll catch it o you'll be for it when you get home! (colloq)

2)

a) (contar con, prever) to expect

tal como esperábamos — just as we expected

cuando uno menos lo espera — when you least expect it

te espero alrededor de las nueve — I'll expect you around nine

estoy esperando una llamada — I'm expecting a call

esperar que + subj: ¿esperabas que te felicitara? did you expect me to congratulate you?; era de esperar que el proyecto fracasara the project was bound to fail; no esperes que cambie de idea don't expect me to change my mind; esperar algo de alguien/algo to expect something of somebody/something; esperaba otra cosa de ti I expected more of you; de ella no puedes esperar ayuda — don't expect her to help

b) <niño/bebé> to be expecting

está esperando familia — she's expecting

3) (con esperanza) to hope

eso espero or espero que sí — I hope so

espero que no — I hope not

esperar + inf — to hope to + inf

espero no haberme olvidado de nada — I hope I haven't forgotten anything

esperar que + subj: espero que no llueva/que te guste I hope it doesn't rain/you like it; espero que tengas suerte I wish you luck; esperemos que no sea nada grave — let's hope it's nothing serious

2.

esperar vi

a) (aguardar) to wait

no podemos esperar más — we can't wait any longer

espera, que bajo contigo — wait a minute o (colloq) hold on, I'll come down with you

esperar a + inf: espera a estar seguro wait until you're sure; esperar (a) que + subj: esperaron (a) que él se fuera para entrar they waited for him to go before they went in; espera (a) que te llamen wait until they call you; esperar sentado (fam): si piensa que lo voy a llamar puede esperar sentado if he thinks I'm going to call him he's got another think coming (colloq); ¿que él cambie de idea? mejor espera sentada him change his mind? some hope!; quien espera desespera — waiting's the worst part

b) embarazada

estar esperando — to be expecting

¿para cuándo espera? — when's the baby due?

3.

esperarse v pron

1) (fam) (aguardar) to hang on (colloq), to hold on (colloq)

espérate ¿no ves que estoy ocupada? — wait a minute! can't you see I'm busy?

2) (fam) (prever) to expect

no me esperaba eso de él — I didn't expect that of o from him

quién se lo iba a esperar! — who would have thought it!

* * *

esperar¹

¹ = await, wait, wait for, hang on, be in store, tarry.

Ex: Comment published so far is favourable, but the code still awaits widespread adoption.

Ex: Otherwise documents will have to wait in cataloguing departments until the record does become available.

Ex: Please accept this from the person who was probably the biggest sceptic in the State of Ohio at the beginning -- if we had waited for this from the start, I think we never would have started.

Ex: 'Hang on a sec, okay?' the senior assistant librarian in charge of serials said as she put the phone down.

Ex: A worse fate is in store for those whose integrated library sustem vendor goes out of business or is bought by another vendor.

Ex: And arming himself with patience and piety he tarried awhile until the hubbub was stilled.

* de aquí te espero = tremendous, humongous [humungous], massive, enormous, gianormous.

* esperamos su repuesta = look forward to + hearing from you.

* esperar con impaciencia = kick + Posesivo + heels.

* esperar el turno de Uno = wait + Posesivo + turn.

* esperar en el futuro = be in store for + Nombre + in the future, future + have in store.

* esperar entre bastidores = wait in + the wings, lurk in + the wings.

* esperar impacientemente = kick + Posesivo + heels.

* esperar sin nada que hacer = kick + Posesivo + heels.

* esperar su momento = wait in + the wings, stand in + the wings, lurk in + the wings.

* esperar su oportunidad = wait in + the wings, stand in + the wings, lurk in + the wings.

* esperar una sorpresa desagradable = rude awakening + be in store, be in for a rude awakening.

* hacer esperar = cool + Posesivo + heels.

* hacer + Pronombre + esperar = keep + Pronombre + waiting.

* lo que espera a = what is on store for.

* lo que nos espera = things to come.

* protesta + no hacerse esperar = cry + ring out.

* ser lo que nos espera = be the shape of things to come.

esperar²

² = call on/upon, expect, hope, count on, look to, bank on.

Ex: The difference is only that an indexer is not usually called upon to appreciate the subtleties of the subject to the same extent as an abstractor.

Ex: In a journal most formal items including articles, essays, discussions and reviews can be expected to be accompanied by an abstract.

Ex: It is hoped that a new ISDS manual and guidelines for bibliographic description will be published in 1986.

Ex: Bookstores can no longer count on customers buying books if there is a more attractive entertainment option.

Ex: Those with more faith than I look to gigantic electronic archives maintained by governments and private companies that will ensure the indefinite survival of the electronic records of humankind.

Ex: Don't bank on it, there can be bright sunshine, hailstones, drizzle, pouring rain and snowflurries in any given hour of the day.

* como cabe esperar = unsurprisingly, as one might expect, as expected.

* como cabía esperar = as expected.

* como cabría esperar = as might be expected, as one might expect.

* como era de esperar = as expected.

* como es de esperar = predictably, not surprisingly, as expected.

* cuando menos te lo esperes = on any given Sunday.

* decir + esperar = express + hope.

* es de esperar = hopefully.

* esperamos sus noticias = look forward to + hearing from you.

* esperando que = in hopeful expectation that.

* esperar con ansiedad = hope for, hold + Posesivo + breath.

* esperar con ansiedad (+ Infinitivo) = look forward to (+ Gerundio).

* esperar con interés (+ Infinitivo), = look forward to (+ Gerundio).

* esperar impacientemente (+ Infinitivo) = look forward to (+ Gerundio).

* esperar lo imposible = shoot (for) + the moon, cry for + the moon, ask for + the moon, reach for + the moon.

* esperar lo peor = expect + the worst.

* esperarse = hold + Posesivo + horses.

* esperarse Algo = come as + no surprise.

* esperar una (gran) sorpresa = be in for a (big) surprise.

* llegar a esperar = come to + expect.

* mucha gente + esperar que = be widely expected.

* que espera demasiado = over expectant.

* salir de donde menos Uno se lo espera = come out of + the woodwork.

* sin esperarlo = out of the blue, like a bolt out of the blue, like a bolt from the blue.

* * *

esperar [A1 ]

vt

A

1 ‹autobús/persona/acontecimiento› to wait for

esperaba el tren/a un amigo he was waiting for the train/a friend

podrías haber esperado un momento más oportuno you could have waited for a better moment

espérame, ya voy wait for me, I'm just coming

la esperé dos horas/en el bar I waited for her for two hours/in the bar

esperaban con impaciencia la llegada de sus amigos they were really looking forward to their friends coming, they couldn't wait for o they were dying for their friends to arrive (colloq)

le encanta hacerse esperar he loves to keep people waiting

esperar algo/a algn PARA + INF:

¿qué estás esperando para decírselo? tell him! what are you waiting for?

no me esperes para cenar eat without me o don't wait for me to eat

2 (recibir) to meet

la fuimos a esperar al aeropuerto we went to meet her at the airport

¿dónde van a esperar el Año Nuevo? where will you be seeing the New Year in?

3 «sorpresa» to await

la reacción del gobierno no se hizo esperar the government was swift to react

como no salgamos temprano ya sabes lo que nos espera a la salida de Madrid if we don't leave early, you know what problems we'll have o you know what it'll be like trying to leave Madrid

le espera un futuro difícil he has a difficult future ahead of him

¡ya verás la que te espera en casa! (fam); you'll catch it o you'll be for it when you get home! (colloq)

B

1 (contar con, prever) to expect

tal como esperábamos just as we expected

cuando uno menos lo espera when you least expect it

ven a cenar, te espero alrededor de las nueve come to dinner, I'll expect you around nine

estoy esperando una llamada de Nueva York I'm expecting a call from New York

esperan un lleno completo they expect a full house

tuvo mayor aceptación de lo que se esperaba it proved to be more popular than had been expected

esperar QUE + SUBJ:

se espera que más de un millón de personas visite la exposición over a million people are expected to visit the exhibition

¿qué esperabas, que te felicitara? what did you expect me to do? congratulate you?

era de esperar que el proyecto fracasara the project was bound to fail, it was only to be expected that the project would fail

no esperes que cambie de idea don't expect me to change my mind

esperar algo DE algn/algo to expect sth OF sb/sth

esperaba otra cosa de ti I expected more of you

no hay que esperar mucho de las conversaciones we shouldn't expect too much of the talks

de ella no puedes esperar ayuda don't expect her to help, you can't expect to get any help from her

2 ‹niño/bebé› to be expecting

esperan el primer hijo para mayo they're expecting their first child in May

está esperando familia she's expecting

C (con esperanza) to hope

¿te vienen a recoger? — eso espero are they coming to collect you? — I hope so

¿quedarán entradas? — espero que sí will there be any tickets left? — I hope so

¿habrá perdido el tren? — espero que no do you think he's missed the train? — I hope not

esperar + INF:

espero poder llegar a la cumbre esta vez I hope to be able to reach the summit this time

espero no haberme olvidado de nada I hope I haven't forgotten anything

esperar QUE + SUBJ:

espero que no llueva/que haga buen tiempo I hope it doesn't rain/the weather's nice

espero que tengas suerte I wish you luck

espero que no me haya mentido I hope he hasn't lied to me

esperemos que no sea nada grave let's hope it's nothing serious

¡y yo que esperaba que estuviera todo listo! and there was I hoping that everything would be ready!

■ esperar

vi

A

1 (aguardar) to wait

lo siento, no podemos esperar más I'm sorry, we can't wait any longer

mientras esperaba corregí los exámenes I corrected the tests while I was waiting

espera, que bajo contigo wait a minute o (colloq) hold on, I'll come down with you

espere un momento, por favor wait a moment, please

espera un momento ¿tú qué haces aquí? just a moment, what are you doing here?

vamos, que el tren no espera come on, the train won't wait for us

esperar A + INF:

espera a estar seguro antes de hablar con ella wait until you're sure before you talk to her

mejor espero a tener un poco más de dinero ahorrado I'd better wait until I've saved a bit more money

esperar ( A) QUE + SUBJ:

el profesor esperó (a) que hubiera silencio the teacher waited for them to be quiet

tiene que esperar (a) que lo llamen you have to wait for them to call you o until they call you

esperaron (a) que él se fuera para entrar they waited for him to go before they went in

esperar sentado (fam): si piensa que lo voy a llamar puede esperar sentado if he thinks I'm going to call him he's got another think coming (colloq)

¿que él cambie de idea? mejor espera sentada him change his mind? some hope! o don't hold your breath! o we could be waiting till the cows come home! (colloq)

quien espera desespera waiting's the worst part, the waiting gets you down

2

«embarazada»: no sabía que estaba esperando I didn't know she was expecting

¿para cuándo espera? when's the baby due?

quedar esperando (Chi); to get pregnant

B esperar por (ant) esperar vt A 1.

■ esperarse

v pron

A (fam) (aguardar) to hang on (colloq), to hold on (colloq)

espérate ¿no ves que estoy ocupada? wait a minute o hang on o hold on! can't you see I'm busy?

B (fam) (prever) to expect

¿qué te esperabas por ese precio? what did you expect for that price?

no me esperaba esa reacción I hadn't expected her to react like that

¿quién se iba a esperar que saliera elegido él? who would have thought he would be elected?

* * *

 

esperar (conjugate esperar) verbo transitivo
1

a) ‹autobús/persona/acontecimiento› to wait for;

◊ ¿qué estás esperando para decírselo? tell him! what are you waiting for?

b) (recibir) to meet;

◊ la fuimos a esperar al aeropuerto we went to meet her at the airport

c) [sorpresa] to await;

◊ le espera un futuro difícil he has a difficult future ahead of him

2

a) (contar con, prever) to expect;

◊ tal como esperábamos just as we expected;

cuando uno menos lo espera when you least expect it;
te espero alrededor de las nueve I'll expect you around nine;
¿esperabas que te felicitara? did you expect me to congratulate you?;
era de esperar que el proyecto fracasara the project was bound to fail

b) ‹niño/bebé› to be expecting

3 (con esperanza) to hope;
eso espero or espero que sí I hope so;

◊ espero que no I hope not;

esperar hacer algo to hope to do sth;
espero que no llueva I hope it doesn't rain;
esperemos que no sea nada grave let's hope it's nothing serious
verbo intransitivo

a) (aguardar) to wait;

◊ no podemos esperar más we can't wait any longer;

espera a estar seguro wait until you're sure;
esperaron (a) que él se fuera para entrar they waited for him to go before they went in

b) [embarazada]:

◊ estar esperando to be expecting

esperarse verbo pronominal
1 (fam) (aguardar) to hang on (colloq), to hold on (colloq)
2 (fam) (prever) to expect;

◊ ¡quién se lo iba a esperar! who would have thought it!

esperar
I verbo transitivo
1 (aguardar) to wait for: espera un momento, ¿seguro que hablas del mismo Pedro?, wait a minute, are you sure you're talking about the same Peter?
2 (tener esperanza) to hope: espero que todo salga bien, I hope everything turns out well ➣ Ver nota en hope 3 (desear, suponer) to expect
4 fig (un hijo) to expect ➣ Ver nota en expect
II verbo intransitivo to wait: no puedo esperar más, I can't wait any longer
♦ Locuciones: familiar de aquí te espero, incredible, massive: afuera hay un follón de aquí te espero, there's an incredible mess outside
esperar sentado, to have a long wait in store: si creéis que voy a participar en esa locura podéis esperar sentados, if you think that I'm going to have any part of that madness, you'll have to wait a long time
Esperar tiene tres significados básicos, que corresponden a tres verbos ingleses:
Aguardar, en sentido general, se traduce por to wait: Llevo media hora esperándote, I've been waiting for you for half an hour.
Tener esperanza, desear, se traduce por to hope: Espero que vengas mañana. I hope you will come tomorrow. Espero que sí. I hope so.
Suponer, esperar algo sabiendo que es muy probable que ocurra, se traduce por to expect: Espero la visita de un amigo (sabemos que va a venir). I'm expecting a friend to call.
'esperar' also found in these entries:
Spanish:
acecho
- aguardar
- amabilidad
- cruzarse
- ser
- esperanza
- pelaje
- pendiente
- prometerse
- satisfacción
- como
- esperado
- exigir
- favor
- hacer
- mucho
- preferir
English:
aim
- anticipate
- await
- bargain for
- bargain on
- daydream
- eruption
- expect
- hang about
- hang around
- hang on
- hold off
- hold on
- hope
- magic wand
- sit up
- to
- trust
- wait
- wait about
- wait around
- wind
- would
- bear
- bide
- count
- dark
- delay
- duly
- else
- hang
- hold
- mind
- unprepared
- unrealistic

* * *

esperar

♦ vt

1. [aguardar] to wait for;

esperar el autobús to wait for the bus;

te esperaremos en el aeropuerto we'll meet you at the airport, we'll be waiting for you at the airport;

espéranos un minuto wait for us a minute;

¡espérame, que voy contigo! wait for me, I'm coming with you!;

¿a qué estás esperando? what are you waiting for?;

esperar a que alguien haga algo to wait for sb to do sth;

esperaré a que vuelva I'll wait till she gets back

2. [tener esperanza de]

todos esperamos la victoria we all hope for victory;

esperamos salir al campo el domingo we are hoping to go on a trip to the countryside on Sunday;

espero poder ayudar I hope I can be of some help;

esperar que… to hope that…;

espero que sí/no I hope so/not;

espero que no te hayas ofendido I hope you didn't take offence;

esperamos que no sea nada let's hope it's nothing serious;

ser de esperar: es de esperar que no ocurra ninguna desgracia let's hope nothing terrible happens;

era de esperar que ocurriría esto you could have predicted this would happen;

como era de esperar as was to be expected;

como era de esperar, llovió mucho as was to be expected o as you might expect, there was a lot of rain

3. [tener confianza en] to expect;

no esperábamos esta reacción we didn't expect this reaction;

espero que venga esta noche I expect (that) she'll come tonight;

esperar algo de alguien to expect sth from sb, to hope for sth from sb;

espero discreción de usted I expect discretion from you, I expect you to be discreet;

¿y qué esperabas (de alguien así)? what did you expect (from someone like that)?;

no esperaba menos de él I expected no less of him

4. [ser inminente para] to await, to be in store for;

nos esperan un buen baño y una cama there's a nice warm bath and a bed waiting for us;

le esperan dificultades he's in for some problems, there are problems in store for him;

Fam

¡me espera una buena en casa! I'm in for it when I get home!;

Fam

¡no sabes la o [m5]lo que te espera! you don't know what you're in for!

♦ vi

1. [aguardar] to wait;

espera en este despacho wait in this office;

espera, que ya voy wait a minute, I'm coming;

espera un instante o [m5]momento, ¿no es el famoso Pedro Valverde? hang on o wait a minute, isn't that the famous Pedro Valverde?;

no creo que puedas hacerlo – espera y verás I don't think you'll be able to do it – just (you) wait and see;

su enfado no se hizo esperar it didn't take long for her anger to surface;

Fam

si crees que te voy a dejar dinero, puedes esperar sentado if you think I'm going to lend you some money, you've got another think coming;

hacer esperar a alguien to keep sb waiting, to make sb wait;

me hiciste esperar una hora you kept me waiting (for) an hour;

Prov

quien espera desespera a watched pot never boils

2. [estar embarazada] to be expecting;

está esperando desde hace cuatro meses she's four months pregnant

♦ See also the pronominal verb esperarse

* * *

esperar

I v/t

1 (aguardar) wait for;

hacerse esperar keep people waiting

2 con esperanza hope;

(así) lo espero I hope so, hopefully;

espero que no I hope not, hopefully not;

es de esperar que it is to be hoped that

3 (suponer, confiar en) expect

4

:

esperar un hijo be expecting a baby

5

:

de aquí te espero fam incredible fam

II v/i (aguardar) wait;

puedes esperar sentado you’re in for a long wait

* * *

esperar vt

1) aguardar: to wait for, to await

2) : to expect

3) : to hope

espero poder trabajar: I hope to be able to work

espero que sí: I hope so

esperar vi

: to wait

♦ See also the reflexive verb esperarse

* * *

esperar vb

1. (aguardar) to wait / to wait for

¿hace mucho que esperas? have you been waiting long?

te esperé toda la tarde I waited all afternoon for you

2. (creer, imaginar) to expect

no esperaba que viniera tanta gente I didn't expect so many people to come

las cosas no le fueron tan bien como esperaba things didn't go as well as he'd expected

3. (tener esperanza, desear) to hope

espera ir a la universidad she hopes to go to university

espero que seáis muy felices I hope you'll be very happy

espero que sí I hope so

esperar un niño to be expecting a baby

hacer esperar a alguien to keep somebody waiting