espera un momento
/espeɾa un momento/from spelling rules
The English phrase "wait a moment" is translated into Spanish as espera un momento.
This phrase is used as a request for someone to stop what they are doing or stay where they are for a short time. For a more colloquial approach, you can also use the common alternative espera un segundo.
Which one should you use?
While espera un momento is a standard way to ask someone to wait, espera un segundo is a very common colloquial alternative. If you want to be even more informal, you might use espera un ratito, por favor to mean "Wait a little moment, please" or espera un segundo, ¿vale? to say "Wait a second, okay?"
How does it change in a sentence?
When addressing someone formally, the form changes to espere un momento.
How do you pronounce it?
/espeɾa un momento/
Did you know?
- The Spanish espera and the English 'desperate' share a common ancestor. 'Desperate' literally describes a state of being 'without hope'.
- Depending on the region, a person might respond to espera un momento with dale, which literally means 'give it' but functions as 'go ahead' or 'I am waiting'.
- While espera un momento is grammatically perfect, if you are in a very informal setting in Mexico, you might hear people use espérame tantito to mean 'wait for me a little bit'.
Examples in context
- Espera un momento.Wait a moment.This sentence is useful for practicing the phrase espera un momento.Tatoeba #1237074 by Shishir, translation #410597 by CK
- Espera un momento, por favor.Wait a moment, please.
- Espera un momento antes de irte.Wait a moment before you leave.
Example conversation
At home, Javier is about to leave the house.
- MaríaJavier, espera un momento.Javier, wait a moment.
- Javier¿Qué pasa, María?What's happening, María?
- MaríaOlvidaste tus llaves en la mesa.You forgot your keys on the table.
- JavierAh, gracias por avisarme.Ah, thanks for letting me know.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries espera, momento, un, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
