Portuguese · Everyday Verbs

"to hope" in Portuguese: esperar

esperar

ess-peh-RAR / ess-PEH-rooverb/es.pe.ˈɾaʁ/

To hope in Portuguese is esperar. On this page use eu espero que… for hopes and wishes—not the noun a espera (the wait).

Before results

Espero que o exame dê certo.

I hope the exam goes well.

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How to pronounce esperar

Say it

ess-peh-RAR / ess-PEH-roo

/es.pe.ˈɾaʁ/

ess-peh-RAR. Eu espero is ess-PEH-roo

"to hope" in Portuguese: quick reference

Portuguese	English	When to use
esperar	to hope / to wait Dictionary form; here = hope.	Dictionary form; here = hope.
eu espero que…	I hope that… Clear hope pattern.	Clear hope pattern.
espero que sim	I hope so Short reply.	Short reply.
espero que não	I hope not Negative hope.	Negative hope.
tomara que…	hopefully… Very Brazilian wish.	Very Brazilian wish.

How to use esperar in real life

1Before results
Espero que o exame dê certo.
I hope the exam goes well.
Espero que…
2Weather wish
Espero que não chova no casamento.
I hope it doesn't rain at the wedding.
Espero que não…
3Travel plan
Eu espero que a gente se veja em maio.
I hope we see each other in May.
Eu espero.

Mistakes English speakers make with esperar

Incorrect: Tenho esperança que… (as required verb)

Correct: Espero que…

Use the verb espero; a esperança is a different noun.

Incorrect: A espera que…

Correct: Espero que…

A espera is the wait; hope uses espero.

Good to know

Esperar also means to wait, so context matters. Espero que… plus subjunctive (dê, chova, venha) marks hope clearly. Tomara que… is a warm Brazilian cousin.