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Spanish Phrase

¿Puedes esperar un momento?

/ˈpwe.ðes es.peˈɾaɾ un moˈmen.to/
Meaning"Can you wait a moment?"
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Meaning

Literally, “Can you wait a moment?” It is a polite request for someone to hold on briefly, whether on the phone, in a store, or while you finish a task.

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When to use

Use this phrase when you need a short pause: during a phone call, while looking for information, or when you need a colleague to wait while you finish something. It works in both formal and informal settings, though adding *por favor* makes it extra courteous.

✦Grammar Breakdown

¿Puedesesperarunmomento?

1

Poder (present)

‘Puedes’ is the second‑person singular present of the verb *poder*, used to ask ability or permission.

2

Infinitive after poder

When *poder* is followed by another verb, that verb stays in the infinitive (here, *esperar*).

3

Indefinite article + noun

‘un momento’ means ‘a moment’; the article *un* makes the noun indefinite and short.

4

Question marks

Spanish uses an opening (¿) and closing (?) question mark for all interrogative sentences.

🗨In Conversation

A

¿Puedes esperar un momento?

Can you wait a moment?

Sí, claro. Dime cuando estés listo.

Sure, of course. Let me know when you're ready.

B

✕Common Mistakes

  • ¿Puedes esperas un momento?

    After *puedes*, the second verb must stay in the infinitive (*esperar*), not conjugated.

  • Puedes esperar un momento.

    Missing opening and closing question marks makes the sentence look like a statement.

  • ¿Puedes esperar unos momentos?

    Using the plural *momentos* changes the meaning to ‘a few moments’, which is less common for a quick pause.

↔Alternatives

  • ¿Me esperas un momento?

    Will you wait for me a moment?

  • ¿Podrías esperar un momento?

    Could you wait a moment?

  • ¿Puedes aguardar un momento?

    Can you hold on a moment?

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Cultural Tip

In many Spanish‑speaking countries, it’s common to add *por favor* after the request (e.g., “¿Puedes esperar un momento, por favor?”). In more formal contexts, you might use the conditional *¿Podría esperar un momento?* to show extra politeness. The phrase is neutral across most regions, but in some Caribbean dialects people often say *aguarda* instead of *espera*.