aguarde

Aguarde is a Portuguese verb meaning to wait, to await, or to anticipate. In its standalone form, aguarde functions as the imperative for formal address or for third-person singular use, as in requests or instructions directed politely to a single person. The informal singular imperative form is aguarda, and the plural imperative for addressing multiple people is aguardem.

In contemporary usage, aguarde appears frequently in customer service, signage, and user interfaces. Examples include phrases such as Aguarde um momento (Please wait a moment) or Aguarde enquanto processamos a sua solicitação (Please wait while we process your request). The form is common in both Brazilian Portuguese and European Portuguese, though regional preferences may affect tone and formality.

Grammatical notes: aguardar is the infinitive corresponding to aguarde. Other imperatives include aguarda (informal singular), aguardem (informal or formal plural), and que ele/a aguarde (subjunctive/hypothetical). The verb is used in contexts where patience or timing is relevant, such as instructions, delays, or anticipated actions.

Etymology and related terms: aguarde derives from aguardar, a verb whose precise historical origin is uncertain and is traced to the Iberian Romance linguistic tradition. Related verbs include esperar (to wait) and antecedent forms in related Portuguese varieties.

Overall, aguarde is a polite, formal command meaning “please wait,” widely used in everyday language, technology interfaces, and service communications to request a moment of patience.