espera, ¿qué?
/esˈpeɾa ˈke/word by word
The Spanish phrase for "wait, what?" is espera, ¿qué?
espera, ¿qué? is an expression used to show surprise or confusion when you hear something unexpected. While it expresses shock or disbelief, if you simply did not hear someone and need them to repeat themselves, it is more standard to use ¿Cómo?
What does it mean word for word?
This phrase is a literal translation of "wait, what?" where espera means "wait" and qué means "what".
Which one should you use?
espera, ¿qué? is used specifically to express shock or disbelief. In contrast, ¿Cómo? is a more standard way to ask someone to repeat what they said because you did not hear them.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In some parts of Spain, it is common to combine both ¿Cómo? and ¿Qué? as ¿Cómo? ¿Qué? to express surprise or disbelief.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word espera in the informal version uses the informal imperative (tú) form, making it suitable for friends or peers. For formal situations, the imperative changes to the formal espere.
How do you pronounce it?
/esˈpeɾa ˈke/
Did you know?
- The word espera comes from the Latin word 'spero', meaning 'to hope'. To 'wait' in Spanish is etymologically linked to the act of hoping for something to happen.
- In many Spanish-speaking regions, if you use ¿Qué? alone to ask someone to repeat themselves, it can sound blunt or even rude. Adding ¿Cómo? softens the request significantly.
- Using the formal espere, ¿qué? can create a sarcastic or 'mock-polite' effect when used with friends. It mimics the tone of a formal interrogation to highlight how absurd a statement is.
Examples in context
- Espera, ¿qué? No te escuché.Wait, what? I didn't hear you.
- Espera, ¿qué? ¿Eso es verdad?Wait, what? Is that true?
- Espera, ¿qué? No entiendo nada.Wait, what? I don't understand anything.
Example conversation
Mateo and Lucia are talking about a surprise party.
- MateoLa fiesta es mañana, no hoy.The party is tomorrow, not today.
- LucíaEspera, ¿qué? Pensé que era hoy.Wait, what? I thought it was today.
- MateoNo, Lucía, lee el mensaje otra vez.No, Lucia, read the message again.
- LucíaTienes razón, me equivoqué.You're right, I was mistaken.
Sources
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (espera, qué) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries espera, qué, CC BY-SA 4.0.
