Espere

Espere is a conjugated form of the verb esperar, used in Spanish and Portuguese. In both languages, esperar carries two core meanings: to wait and to hope or expect. The form espere appears in grammatical contexts that differ between the two languages, but share a common origin.

In Spanish, espere is the third-person singular present subjunctive form (él/ella/usted espere). It is used in subordinate clauses introduced by que, as in “Espero que él espere” (I hope that he waits) or “Quiero que usted espere un momento.” It is also the formal affirmative imperative for the pronoun usted, meaning “Please wait.” For example: “Espere aquí, por favor.” The same form can thus express polite commands or hypothetical statements depending on the sentence structure.

In Portuguese, espere is the present subjunctive form used with que (que ele espere, que você espere) and is also the affirmative imperative form for você, serving as a polite command: “Espere aqui” means “Wait here.” Because the form overlaps with the subjunctive, its precise meaning is determined by syntax and context.

Etymology: esperer in both languages derives from Latin roots associated with hoping or awaiting, linking to Latin exspectare or sperare. Over time, these roots evolved into the Iberian forms for variants of waiting and hoping.

See also: esperar, espera, esperas, esperei. Usage varies by region and formality; proper interpretation depends on surrounding grammar and the presence of que or subject pronouns.