estoy esperando
/estoi espeɾando/from spelling rules
In Spanish, "I am waiting" is estoy esperando.
This phrase is used to say that you are currently in a state of waiting for someone or something.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the first-person singular present of estar (to be in a state) and the gerund of esperar (to wait/to hope).
Which one should you use?
While estoy esperando emphasizes the continuous action happening right now, the simple present espero can also be used to mean "I am waiting" or "I wait" depending on the context.
How does it change in a sentence?
When waiting for a person, you must use the "personal a" by adding a before the person being waited for.
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly use por to translate "for" in this context, but in Spanish, esperar is a transitive verb that takes a direct object without a preposition (e.g., esperando el autobús rather than esperando por el autobús).
Did you know?
- In Spanish, you cannot use esperar to express that you are 'waiting on' a table as a server. For that specific professional action, you would use the verb atender.
- The phrase estoy esperando is often used in a passive-aggressive way to signal that someone is late. Saying it with a specific emphasis can function as a subtle reprimand rather than a neutral statement.
- Spanish has a specific word, esperanza, derived from the same root as esperar. While esperar is the act of waiting or hoping, esperanza describes the abstract feeling of hope.
Examples in context
- Estoy esperando mi turno.I am waiting my turn.This sentence is useful for saying you are waiting for your turn using estoy esperando.Tatoeba #1391581 by Shishir, translation #2783166 by catcher
- Estoy esperando a mi chofer.I am waiting for my driver.This sentence is useful for saying you are waiting for your driver using estoy esperando.Tatoeba #1669102 by marcelostockle, translation #1661151 by Amastan
- Estoy esperando el colectivo.I am waiting for the bus.This sentence is useful for saying you are waiting for the bus using estoy esperando.Tatoeba #5107204 by don_ramon, translation #2143069 by gloeb
- Espero su respuestaI am waiting for your response
- Espero al doctorI am waiting for the doctor
- Estoy esperando su llamadaI am waiting for your call
- Estoy esperando el autobúsI am waiting for the bus
- Estoy esperando a mis amigosI am waiting for my friends
- Espero por tiI am waiting for you
- No hago más que esperarteI do nothing but wait for you
- 6 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Daniel and Lucía are talking on the phone near a cafe.
- DanielHola Lucía, ¿dónde estás?Hi Lucía, where are you?
- LucíaHola Daniel, estoy esperando el autobús.Hi Daniel, I am waiting for the bus.
- Daniel¿Cuánto tiempo vas a tardar?How long are you going to take?
- LucíaNo lo sé, pero estoy esperando en la esquina.I don't know, but I am waiting on the corner.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
