Also means
to expect
Usage Note
Esperar covers both 'to wait' and 'to hope/expect', so context is essential: espero el autobús means 'I am waiting for the bus', while espero que llegues means 'I hope you arrive'. The dual meaning can catch learners off guard — use aguardar if you want an unambiguous 'to wait'.
Examples
"Espero tu llamada con ansias."
Natural Translation
I am eagerly waiting for your call.
Literal Translation
I-hope your call with eagerness.

Free starter pack
Building your Spanish vocabulary?
Get the 100 most common Spanish words as a free PDF — one email, no spam.
Related Words
Explore Spanish by topic
SpanishNow
6 min read