Portuguese · Common Verbs
Esperar
[/ispeˈɾaʁ/]
To wait
Beginnerverb
Definition
To stay in a place or remain inactive until something expected happens.
Ficar em um lugar ou permanecer inativo até que algo esperado aconteça.
Example
Espera um momento, já volto.
Wait a moment, I'll be right back.
Etymology
'Esperar' originates from the Latin 'sperare', meaning 'to hope'. Over time, its meaning expanded to include waiting, particularly in daily conversation.
How & Where It’s Used
'Esperar' is commonly used in informal speech and is also present in written forms. It has broad usage across different regions and is integral to everyday interactions.