Wait meanings in Portuguese

esperar

Example:

I will wait for you at the café.

Eu vou esperar por você no café.

Please wait a moment.

Por favor, espere um momento.

Usage: formal/informalContext: Used in both formal and informal situations when referring to the act of waiting for someone or something.

Note: Commonly used in everyday conversation. Can denote patience or anticipation.

aguardar

Example:

We will wait for your response.

Nós vamos aguardar sua resposta.

They are waiting for the results.

Eles estão aguardando os resultados.

Usage: formalContext: Typically used in formal contexts, such as business or official communications.

Note: Considered more formal than 'esperar'. Often used in written language.

esperar por

Example:

She is waiting for her friend.

Ela está esperando por sua amiga.

I can't wait for the weekend.

Eu não posso esperar pelo fim de semana.

Usage: informalContext: Used in casual conversation when specifying the subject being waited for.

Note: Commonly used in everyday speech, particularly in informal settings.

demorar

Example:

The train is taking a long time to arrive; I have to wait.

O trem está demorando muito para chegar; eu tenho que esperar.

Why do we have to wait so long?

Por que temos que esperar tanto tempo?

Usage: informalContext: Used when referring to a delay in time or when something is taking longer than expected.

Note: Often implies frustration or impatience.

tardar

Example:

He will be late; we have to wait for him.

Ele vai tardar; temos que esperar por ele.

Don't be late; I can't wait forever.

Não se atrase; eu não posso esperar para sempre.

Usage: formal/informalContext: Used to indicate that someone or something is delayed or late.

Note: Less common in everyday conversation; more likely to be found in literary contexts.

await

To wait for something or someone, usually with anticipation.

Example: We are eagerly awaiting the arrival of our guests.

Note: Await is more formal and often implies a sense of expectation or excitement.

anticipate

To expect or look forward to something happening.

Example: I anticipate a long line at the ticket counter, so we should leave early.

Note: Anticipate can imply a sense of preparation or foresight in addition to waiting.

expect

To believe or assume that something will happen or be the case.

Example: I expect the report to be ready by tomorrow.

Note: Expect is often used when there is a specific outcome or result that is anticipated.

pause

To temporarily stop or delay an action or activity.

Example: Let's pause for a moment and reflect on what has been said.

Note: Pause implies a brief interruption rather than a prolonged period of waiting.

Wait for

To delay action until someone or something arrives or is ready.

Example: I have to wait for my friend before we can go to the movie.

Note: The phrase 'wait for' specifically indicates waiting for a person or thing.

Wait in line

To wait one's turn in a queue or line of people.

Example: We had to wait in line for over an hour to get tickets to the concert.

Note: This phrase specifies waiting in a line or queue.

Wait up

To stay awake or delay going to bed until someone arrives or something happens.

Example: Don't go to bed yet, wait up for me to get home.

Note: It implies staying awake or delaying bedtime for someone or something.

Wait and see

To wait patiently to find out what will happen or how a situation will develop.

Example: I'm not sure how it will turn out; we'll just have to wait and see.

Note: This phrase emphasizes the aspect of patience and uncertainty in waiting.

Wait it out

To endure a difficult or challenging situation by being patient and waiting for it to end.

Example: The storm will pass; we just need to wait it out inside.

Note: This phrase suggests enduring or being patient during a challenging situation.

Wait on

To serve someone by attending to their needs or desires, especially in a restaurant or store.

Example: The restaurant staff continued to wait on the customers even during busy hours.

Note: It indicates serving or attending to someone's needs.

Wait a minute

An expression used to ask for a short pause or delay in an activity or conversation.

Example: Wait a minute, I need to grab my keys before we leave.

Note: This phrase is a common way to ask for a brief delay in action.

Hold your horses

This slang term means to wait or be patient, often used to tell someone to slow down or wait a moment.

Example: Hold your horses! Let me finish talking before you interrupt.

Note: The original word 'wait' is replaced by 'hold your horses' to add emphasis and convey a sense of urgency or impatience.

Chill out

This term means to relax or calm down, often used to ask someone to be patient or wait calmly.

Example: Hey, chill out! I'll be ready in a few minutes.

Note: While 'wait' implies pausing for a specific purpose, 'chill out' focuses more on the emotional aspect of waiting by asking someone to stay calm or relaxed.

Hang on a sec

This slang phrase means to wait for a short period, typically used to delay briefly before moving on to the next action.

Example: Hang on a sec, I'll grab my keys and then we can go.

Note: Instead of simply saying 'wait,' 'hang on a sec' suggests a quick pause or delay before proceeding, indicating a short timeframe for waiting.

Cool your jets

This expression means to calm down or relax, often used to ask someone to be patient and wait calmly.

Example: Cool your jets! The bus will be here soon.

Note: Similar to 'chill out,' 'cool your jets' emphasizes the need to remain calm while waiting, but with a slightly more playful or informal tone.

Give it a minute

This phrase means to wait briefly, suggesting that a short amount of time is needed before proceeding.

Example: Just give it a minute, I'm almost ready to leave.

Note: Rather than using the word 'wait,' 'give it a minute' implies a sense of anticipation and expectation, highlighting the imminent completion of a task or action.

Not so fast

This term means to slow down or hold off on proceeding, often used to caution against rushing into something.

Example: Not so fast! We need to wait for everyone to arrive before we start.

Note: While 'wait' indicates a general pause, 'not so fast' specifically warns against acting too quickly or impulsively, urging restraint and patience.

Take a rain check

This idiom means to postpone or reschedule a plan, often used when someone cannot engage in an activity as planned but suggests doing it at another time.

Example: Can we take a rain check on dinner tonight? I'm not feeling well.

Note: Unlike a straightforward 'wait,' 'take a rain check' implies a temporary delay or postponement with the intention of revisiting the plan in the future.

Wait for me!

Espere por mim!

I'm waiting for the bus.

Estou esperando o ônibus.

Please don't make me wait too long.

Por favor, não me faça esperar muito tempo.

Wait - Verb (Verb) / Verb, base form (Verb, base form)

Lemma: wait

Conjugations

Noun, plural (Noun, plural): waits, wait

Noun, singular or mass (Noun, singular or mass): wait

Verb, past tense (Verb, past tense): waited

Verb, gerund or present participle (Verb, gerund or present participle): waiting

Verb, 3rd person singular present (Verb, 3rd person singular present): waits

Verb, base form (Verb, base form): wait

Verb, non-3rd person singular present (Verb, non-3rd person singular present): wait

Syllabification and Stress

wait Contains 1 syllables: wait

Phonetic transcription: ˈwāt

wait , ˈwāt (The red syllable is stressed)

The word frequency and importance index indicates how often a word appears in a given language. The smaller the number, the more frequently the word is used. The most frequently used words typically range from about 1 to 4000.

wait: 500 - 600 (Extremely common).

This importance index helps you focus on the most useful words during your language learning process.

Wait