Which one should you use?
While esperando is the standard form, Aguardando is a formal alternative. For professional contexts, such as being on hold on a phone call or waiting for a specific action to finish, the phrase em espera is used. If you want to say 'wait up' or 'hold on' in a casual way, you should use the colloquial expression Espera aí. To express the idea of 'to keep waiting' in an informal manner, use ficar esperando.
How does it change in a sentence?
esperando is the gerund of the verb esperar and is used to express continuous actions. When waiting for someone, you can use esperando directly with a person (for example, esperando você), but it is also common to add the preposition por (esperando por você) to emphasize the act of waiting for that person.
Did you know?
- While esperando is used for continuous action in Brazil, speakers in Portugal often prefer a esperar to express the same state of waiting.
- The verb esperar is used in the common phrase esperar que, which triggers the subjunctive mood, a complex grammatical form that requires the following verb to change its ending.
- When you use the phrase Espera aí to tell someone to 'wait up', you are literally telling them 'Wait there', which uses the adverb of place 'aí' to anchor the person in a spot.
Examples in context
- O Tom está esperando.Tom is waiting.This sentence shows how to use esperando to describe a person's current action.Tatoeba #2108428 by MarlonX19, translation #1901605 by Spamster
- Um táxi está esperando.A cab is waiting.This sentence shows how to use esperando to describe a vehicle's current action.Tatoeba #4317964 by ajdavidl, translation #2280251 by CK
- Você está me esperando?Are you waiting for me?This sentence demonstrates how to use esperando when asking if someone is waiting for you.Tatoeba #9709587 by Cinthya, translation #3916992 by CH
- Estou esperando pelo seu retorno.I am waiting for your response.
- Estamos aguardando a chegada do cliente.We are waiting for the client's arrival.
- Espera aí! Vou pegar minha bolsa.Wait up! I'll grab my purse.
- Por que você sempre me faz ficar esperando?Why do you always keep me waiting?
- 514 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Gabriel and Camila are meeting at a cafe.
- GabrielOi, Camila! Você ficou esperando muito tempo?Hi, Camila! Were you waiting for a long time?
- CamilaNão, cheguei agora mesmo.No, I just arrived.
- GabrielQue bom. Desculpe por te deixar esperando.That's good. Sorry for keeping you waiting.
- CamilaTudo bem, Gabriel. Não foi nada.It's okay, Gabriel. It was nothing.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
