Spanish Phrase
Gracias por esperar.
Meaning
Literally 'Thank you for waiting.' It conveys appreciation for someone's patience while you were occupied or delayed. The phrase is polite but concise, making it suitable for both formal and informal settings.
When to use
Use this sentence when you have kept someone on hold—on the phone, in a store, or after a brief delay in a meeting. It works well in customer‑service contexts, after a presentation starts late, or whenever you want to acknowledge that the other person waited for you.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Graciasporesperar
Gracias
A simple expression of gratitude; works like 'thank you' in English.
por
A preposition meaning 'for' that introduces the reason or cause of the gratitude.
esperar (infinitive)
The infinitive form of the verb 'to wait'. Using the infinitive after 'por' is the standard way to thank someone for an action.
🗨In Conversation
¿Lejos está el baño?
Where is the bathroom?
Lo siento, tardé un momento. Gracias por esperar.
Sorry, I took a moment. Thank you for waiting.
✕Common Mistakes
Gracias de esperar.
Do not replace 'por' with 'de'; the correct preposition for expressing gratitude for an action is 'por'.
Gracias por esperaste.
Avoid using the conjugated form 'esperaste' here; the infinitive 'esperar' is required after 'por'.
Grasias por esperar.
Do not omit the accent on 'Gracias'—the accent marks the stress and is mandatory.
↔Alternatives
Muchas gracias por esperar.
Thank you very much for waiting.
Te agradezco la espera.
I appreciate your waiting.
Gracias por tu paciencia.
Thank you for your patience.
Cultural Tip
In many Spanish‑speaking countries, acknowledging a person's time is a sign of respect. Even a brief 'Gracias por esperar' can smooth over a delay and keep the interaction friendly. In formal settings (e.g., business meetings) you might add 'señor/señora' or use the more formal 'Le agradezco la espera.' In Latin America, adding 'muchas' (many) intensifies the gratitude, while in Spain a simple 'Gracias' often suffices if the context is clear.