Learn Russian: Подождите минуточку, я сейчас отправлю файл. - Just a minute, I'll send the file right now.

The suffix -очк- forms a diminutive. While it literally means a 'little minute', native speakers use it pragmatically to soften a request. Saying Подождите минуту can sound a bit direct or even demanding. Adding the diminutive makes the command feel much more polite and casual, similar to saying 'just a sec' in English.

Why does минуточку end in -у?

It is in the accusative case. The base noun is минуточка, which is feminine and ends in -а. In Russian, time expressions that denote the duration of an action (answering 'for how long?') take the accusative case.

How does the word сейчас work with the future tense verb отправлю? Doesn't it mean 'now'?

While сейчас usually means 'now' with present tense verbs, pairing it with a perfective future verb like отправлю (I will send) shifts the meaning to 'right away' or 'in just a moment'. It emphasizes that the result will happen immediately.

Why use the perfective подождите instead of the imperfective ждите?

The perfective imperative (подождите) is used for simple, one-time requests and is generally the standard polite choice. The imperfective imperative (ждите) focuses on the process and can sound like a strict command ('keep waiting') or imply impatience.