Learn Portuguese (Portugal): Espero na paragem do autocarro.

Espero na paragem do autocarro.

I am waiting at the bus stop.

Breakdown of Espero na paragem do autocarro.

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Questions & Answers about Espero na paragem do autocarro.

The verb espero also means "I hope" or "I expect". How do we know it means "I am waiting" here?

The verb esperar covers all three meanings: to wait, to hope, and to expect. You have to rely on context to tell them apart. Because this sentence is about being located at a bus stop (na paragem), "waiting" is the only translation that makes logical sense.

Why do we use na instead of a specific word for "at"?

Portuguese doesn't have a direct equivalent for the English preposition "at". Instead, it uses em to indicate location, whether that means in, on, or at. Here, em combines with the feminine definite article a (because paragem is a feminine noun) to form na.

Why does it say do autocarro (of the bus) instead of just de autocarro?

Both are actually correct and widely used in Portugal. Saying paragem de autocarro describes the type of stop in a general sense. Using do (which is de + o) implies "the stop of the bus", referring to the bus system as a specific entity. You will hear native speakers use both interchangeably.

Is paragem do autocarro specific to European Portuguese? I usually see different words for "bus stop" online.