esperando
/espeɾando/from spelling rules
The Spanish word for expecting is esperando.
esperando is used when you are waiting for someone or something to arrive or happen.
Which one should you use?
While in English you might distinguish between 'waiting' and 'expecting', the Spanish word esperando covers both meanings. Additionally, if you want to express the state of 'was expecting' (anticipation), it is often more natural to use the imperfect tense esperaba rather than the gerund esperando alone.
How does it change in a sentence?
When you are expecting a person, you must use the preposition a before the person's name or pronoun, forming the phrase esperando a.
How do you pronounce it?
/espeɾando/
Did you know?
- There is a common Spanish idiom no esperes sentando, which literally means 'do not wait sitting down'. It is used to tell someone that if they want something to happen, they must take action.
- In Spanish, the word esperanza for 'hope' shares the same root as esperando. This means that the act of waiting and the feeling of hope are linguistically tied together.
- In Spanish, if you say estoy esperando un bebé, it literally means 'I am waiting for a baby', which is the standard way to say 'I am expecting a baby'.
Examples in context
- Estoy esperando a Tom.I'm expecting Tom.This sentence is useful for showing how to use esperando with a person.Tatoeba #2624606 by Shishir, translation #2235770 by CK
- Te he estado esperando.I have been expecting you.This sentence shows how to use esperando to say you have been waiting for someone.Tatoeba #2225134 by Shishir, translation #1820317 by Spamster
- ¡Me lo esperaba esperando!I was expecting it!This sentence demonstrates the use of esperando when expressing that you expected something.Tatoeba #6626645 by UsuarioX, translation #2355 by CK
- Marta y Carlos esperan un bebé para septiembre.Marta and Carlos are expecting a baby in September.
- ¿Sabías que Lucía y Pedro están esperando un bebé?Did you know that Lucía and Pedro are expecting a baby?
- Javier y Lucía están esperando un bebé y se complacen en compartir esta noticia con todos nosotros.Javier and Lucía are expecting a baby and are delighted to share this news with all of us.
- 33 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lucía and Javier are waiting for a friend at a cafe.
- Lucía¿Todavía estás esperando a María?Are you still expecting María?
- JavierSí, llevo diez minutos esperando.Yes, I've been waiting for ten minutes.
- LucíaQuizás ella está esperando el autobús.Maybe she is waiting for the bus.
- JavierEs verdad, ella siempre llega tarde.That's true, she always arrives late.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
