Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| esperar | /espeˈɾaɾ/ | |
| esperanzarse | /espeɾanθaɾse/ (Spain, from spelling rules) /espeɾansaɾse/ (Latin America, from spelling rules) |
|
| aguardar | /aɡwaɾˈdaɾ/ | |
| ahuciarse | /auθjaɾse/ (Spain, from spelling rules) /ausjaɾse/ (Latin America, from spelling rules) |
|
| que | /ke/ | conjunction |
The primary way to express the desire for something to happen with the expectation that it might is to use esperar. You can also use the noun esperanza to refer to the belief that a wish can be fulfilled, or the name Esperanza. In certain contexts, a short expression Espero que sí is used to mean 'I hope so'.
Which one should you use?
While esperar is the standard verb for both 'to hope' and 'to wait', other words have more specific meanings. Aguardar is a formal synonym used specifically for the sense of 'waiting' or 'awaiting' rather than 'hoping'. To describe the emotional state of becoming hopeful or pinning one's hopes on something, use the reflexive verb esperanzarse.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
When using esperar followed by a clause that expresses a wish (for example, 'I hope that…'), you must use the conjunction que and the verb in the following clause must be in the subjunctive mood. The word Ojalá is also used to convey a wish or sense of hope and is frequently followed by the subjunctive mood.
How do you pronounce it?
/espeˈɾaɾ/
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly use desear (to desire) when they actually mean 'to hope'. Use esperar to express expectation or hope for a future event.
When do people say it?
The word Ojalá is a common way to express a wish or a strong sense of hope for something to happen.
Did you know?
- The word Ojalá actually comes from the Arabic phrase law sha' Allah, which means 'if God wills'.
- The formal verb aguardar shares a common ancestor with the English word 'ward', as seen in 'warden' or 'guard'. It involves the concept of watching over or protecting something while waiting.
- In some Spanish-speaking cultures, saying ojalá is used as a sarcastic way to express that something is highly unlikely to happen.
Examples in context
- Ojalá que te mueras.I hope you die.This sentence shows the use of que to express a wish.Tatoeba #1305445 by marcelostockle, translation #436715 by lukaszpp
- Espero que le guste.I hope you like it.This sentence demonstrates how to use que with Espero to express a hope.Tatoeba #1813097 by Shishir, translation #436717 by lukaszpp
- Espero que te sirva.I hope it helps.This sentence shows how to use que to express that you hope something is useful.Tatoeba #5170223 by adroguense, translation #5170489 by tabular
- Espero sinceramente que su proyecto tenga éxito.I sincerely hope that your project is successful.
- Expreso mi deseo de que encuentres la felicidad que tanto mereces.I express my wish that you find the happiness you deserve.
- Anhelo que este nuevo año nos traiga paz y prosperidad.I yearn for this new year to bring us peace and prosperity.
- Espero que te diviertas en la fiesta.I hope you have fun at the party.
- Ojalá que encuentres el amor verdadero.I hope you find true love.
- Quiero que todo salga bien en tu examen.I hope everything goes well on your exam.
- 604 more sentences on Tatoeba
Sources
- Wiktionary, “hope” translations and entries esperar, esperanzarse, aguardar, ahuciarse, que, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries aguardar, esperar, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
