Spanish Phrase
Espera a que la gente salga.
Meaning
The sentence means ‘Wait until the people leave.’ It is a polite way to ask someone to hold off on an action until a group has finished moving or speaking.
When to use
Use this phrase when you are in a shared space—like a bus, a queue, a meeting, or a party—and you need to wait for the crowd to disperse before proceeding.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Esperaaquelagentesalga
Imperative (Espera)
‘Espera’ is the informal singular imperative of the verb ‘esperar’, used to give a direct command or request.
Conjunction ‘a que’
‘A que’ introduces a subordinate clause that expresses a future or uncertain event; it always triggers the subjunctive mood.
Subjunctive (salga)
Because the clause follows ‘a que’, the verb ‘salir’ appears in the present subjunctive (salga) to indicate an action that has not yet happened.
Subject ‘la gente’
‘La gente’ is a collective noun that takes a third‑person singular verb.
🗨In Conversation
Espera a que la gente salga.
Wait until the people leave.
¡Claro, no queremos interrumpir!
Sure, we don’t want to interrupt.
✕Common Mistakes
Espera que la gente sale.
After ‘a que’ you must use the subjunctive, not the indicative.
Espera a la gente salga.
The conjunction ‘a que’ is required; dropping ‘que’ makes the sentence ungrammatical.
Espera a que la gente se va.
Use the subjunctive form ‘se vaya’ instead of the indicative ‘se va’.
↔Alternatives
Espera hasta que la gente se vaya.
Wait until the people go away.
Aguarda a que la gente salga.
Hold on until the people leave.
Mantente a la espera de que la gente salga.
Stay waiting for the people to leave.
Cultural Tip
In many Spanish‑speaking countries it is considered courteous to let a group finish speaking or exiting before you start your own activity. Using ‘a que’ + subjunctive shows you respect the uncertainty of the timing, which sounds more natural than a simple ‘cuando’.