What does esperar mean?

Three meanings: (1) to wait (espero el autobús = I'm waiting for the bus), (2) to hope (espero que vengas = I hope you come, triggers subjunctive), (3) to expect (esperamos un bebé = we're expecting a baby).

How do you conjugate esperar in the present?

Espero, esperas, espera, esperamos, esperáis, esperan. Fully regular -ar verb.

When does esperar trigger subjunctive?

When it means 'to hope' and is followed by que + clause: Espero que vengas (I hope you come). The subjunctive marks uncertainty / desired-but-not-certain outcome. Wait / expect meanings with a noun object don't trigger subjunctive.

Why don't I say 'espero por el autobús'?

Spanish esperar takes a direct object, not a preposition. Espero el autobús = I'm waiting for the bus. The 'for' in English isn't translated. With people, use personal a: espero a María.

How can I master esperar?

Drill regular -ar conjugations. Practice the three meanings with context examples. Drill esperar que + subjunctive (espero que vengas, esperamos que llueva). Parrot's videos show esperar across all three senses naturally.

Spanish grammar · Beginner

Esperar Conjugation: Every Tense with Examples

Written by Sofia Ramirez, Lead Spanish Curriculum Editor · Reviewed May 2026

Esperar means to wait (for), to hope (for), or to expect. Fully regular -ar. Triggers subjunctive when used as 'to hope' (Espero que vengas). Three meanings in one verb, context determines.

Espero el autobús.

I'm waiting for the bus.

What it is

Esperar has three meanings: to wait (for someone / something), to hope (for an outcome), and to expect (a guest, a baby, etc.). Fully regular -ar verb. When 'to hope,' it triggers subjunctive: Espero que vengas (I hope you come).

Espero el autobús (I'm waiting for the bus, wait). Espero que vengas (I hope you come, hope + subjunctive). Esperamos a un bebé (We're expecting a baby).

How to spot it

Fully regular -ar. Same conjugation across all three meanings; context determines. Espero + noun = wait / expect. Espero + que + subjunctive = hope.

Espero el tren. — I'm waiting for the train.
Espero que tengas suerte. — I hope you have luck.
Esperamos visitas mañana. — We're expecting visitors tomorrow.

When in doubt: with a noun = wait / expect; with que + clause = hope (and triggers subjunctive).

Esperar Conjugation Quick Reference

Esperar at a glance

Person	Present	Preterite	Imperfect	Future	Subjunctive
yo	espero	esperé	esperaba	esperaré	espere
tú	esperas	esperaste	esperabas	esperarás	esperes
él/ella/Ud.	espera	esperó	esperaba	esperará	espere
nosotros	esperamos	esperamos	esperábamos	esperaremos	esperemos
vosotros	esperáis	esperasteis	esperabais	esperaréis	esperéis
ellos/Uds.	esperan	esperaron	esperaban	esperarán	esperen

Common Esperar Conjugation Examples in Spanish

Esperar across its three meanings:

Wait (For)

Espero el autobús.: I'm waiting for the bus.
¿Me esperas un momento?: Will you wait for me a moment?
Esperamos en la cola.: We waited in line.
Te esperé una hora.: I waited an hour for you.

Esperar takes a direct object (no preposition like English 'for'): espero el autobús (NOT *espero por el autobús).

Hope (Triggers Subjunctive with Que)

Espero que tengas un buen día.: I hope you have a good day.
Espero que vengas.: I hope you come.
Esperamos que les guste.: We hope you all like it.
Espero que sí.: I hope so.

Esperar + que + subjunctive = hope. Different from creer que (which takes indicative).

Expect (Guests, Baby, News)

Esperamos a un bebé.: We're expecting a baby.
Espero noticias suyas.: I'm awaiting / expecting their news.
Estamos esperando a los invitados.: We're expecting the guests.
Esperaba esa respuesta.: I expected that answer.

Esperar = expect (something / someone coming). With people, use personal a: esperar a + person.

Common Phrases

Espera, por favor.: Wait, please.
¡No me lo esperaba!: I wasn't expecting that!
Como era de esperar...: As was to be expected...
Esperar lo mejor.: Hope for the best.

Common imperatives + idioms with esperar.

How to Conjugate Esperar Across Tenses

Present, Fully Regular -ar

Espero, esperas, espera, esperamos, esperáis, esperan. No irregularities.

Espero, esperas, espera, esperamos, esperáis, esperan.

I wait / hope / expect, etc.

Standard -ar.

Preterite, Fully Regular

Esperé, esperaste, esperó, esperamos, esperasteis, esperaron. Standard -ar.

Esperé una hora.

I waited an hour.

Standard -ar preterite.

When Meaning Hope, Triggers Subjunctive

Esperar que + subjunctive (hope that something happens). The subjunctive is required because hoping doesn't assert reality. Espero que tengas suerte (I hope you have luck).

Espero que vengas.

I hope you come.

Espero que + subjunctive (hope).

Compound Tenses

Past participle esperado is regular. He esperado, había esperado, etc.

He esperado mucho tiempo.

I've waited a long time.

Regular past participle.

Common Mistakes with Esperar Conjugation

Incorrect: Espero por el autobús. — I'm waiting for the bus.

Correct: Espero el autobús. — I'm waiting for the bus.

Esperar takes a direct object (no preposition). Don't translate English 'wait FOR.' Just espero + thing waited for. With people, use personal a: espero a Juan.

Incorrect: Espero que tú vienes. — I hope you come.

Correct: Espero que tú vengas. — I hope you come.

Esperar que (hope that) triggers subjunctive. Vienes (indicative) → vengas (subjunctive). The subjunctive marks the uncertain / hoped-for nature.

Incorrect: Esperaba a un bebé. — I was expecting a baby.

Correct: Esperaba un bebé. / Estaba esperando un bebé. — I was expecting a baby.

When 'expecting' an unborn baby, no personal a (the baby isn't yet a specific person). Esperar a + person when waiting for a known individual: esperaba a María.

Esperar Triggers Subjunctive (Hope)

Esperar Que + Subjunctive

When esperar means 'to hope,' it triggers subjunctive in the que-clause. Espero que + subjunctive expresses uncertainty / desire. Same pattern as quiero que, deseo que, ojalá. Negative form (no espero que) also triggers subjunctive.

Espero que vengas.: I hope you come.
Espero que tengas suerte.: I hope you have luck.
Esperaba que llegaran a tiempo.: I hoped they'd arrive on time. (imperfect subjunctive)
Esperamos que les guste el regalo.: We hope you like the gift.
No espero que sea fácil.: I don't expect it to be easy.

Hoping doesn't assert a fact, so Spanish requires subjunctive. Past tense esperar (esperaba que) pairs with imperfect subjunctive (llegaran). Present esperar pairs with present subjunctive (vengas).

Esperar Conjugation FAQs

What does esperar mean?: Three meanings: (1) to wait (espero el autobús = I'm waiting for the bus), (2) to hope (espero que vengas = I hope you come, triggers subjunctive), (3) to expect (esperamos un bebé = we're expecting a baby).
How do you conjugate esperar in the present?: Espero, esperas, espera, esperamos, esperáis, esperan. Fully regular -ar verb.
When does esperar trigger subjunctive?: When it means 'to hope' and is followed by que + clause: Espero que vengas (I hope you come). The subjunctive marks uncertainty / desired-but-not-certain outcome. Wait / expect meanings with a noun object don't trigger subjunctive.
Why don't I say 'espero por el autobús'?: Spanish esperar takes a direct object, not a preposition. Espero el autobús = I'm waiting for the bus. The 'for' in English isn't translated. With people, use personal a: espero a María.
How can I master esperar?: Drill regular -ar conjugations. Practice the three meanings with context examples. Drill esperar que + subjunctive (espero que vengas, esperamos que llueva). Parrot's videos show esperar across all three senses naturally.