todavía esperando
/todabia espeɾando/from spelling rules
The English phrase "still waiting" can be translated into Spanish as todavía esperando.
This phrase is used to express that a person is continuing to wait for something or someone.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of todavía (still/yet) and esperando (waiting).
Which one should you use?
A synonymous alternative to todavía esperando is aún esperando, which can be used interchangeably in most contexts.
How does it change in a sentence?
While todavía esperando is a literal translation, native speakers often use the verb seguir (to follow/continue) in the form sigo esperando to express the ongoing state of waiting. Additionally, if you are still waiting because someone has not arrived, you would use the phrase todavía no ha llegado to describe the situation.
Did you know?
- The word todavía actually contains a hidden map, as it is derived from the Latin tota via, meaning 'the whole way'.
- The word esperar is a linguistic chameleon. Depending on the context, it can mean 'to wait' or 'to hope', so todavía esperando could mean you are still waiting for a bus or still hoping for a miracle.
- To express frustration that someone is 'still waiting' to arrive, a native speaker might use sigue sin aparecer, which literally translates to 'continues without appearing'.
Examples in context
- Sigo esperando pacientementeI'm still waiting patiently
- Sigo esperando y ya me estoy poniendo impacienteI'm still waiting, and I'm starting to get impatient
- ¿Todavía esperando a tu amigo?Are you still waiting for your friend?
- Él está todavía esperando su turno.He is still waiting for his turn.
Example conversation
Elena and Daniel are at a restaurant.
- ElenaElena: ¿Y nuestra comida? Sigo todavía esperando.And our food? I'm still waiting.
- DanielDaniel: Yo también, hace media hora que pedimos.Me too, we ordered half an hour ago.
- ElenaElena: Voy a preguntarle al camarero.I'm going to ask the waiter.
- DanielDaniel: Buena idea, Elena.Good idea, Elena.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries todavía, CC BY-SA 4.0.
