You're standing in a bustling market in Madrid, or maybe you're just trying to answer a phone call from a coworker in Mexico City. Someone is talking fast. Too fast. You need them to hold on for just a second while you grab a pen or find your place in the conversation. Your brain freezes. You know the word momento, but is that enough? Honestly, just saying "one moment" isn't always about the literal passage of time; it's about social grease. It's about not being rude.
So, how do you say one moment in Spanish without sounding like a textbook from 1994? It depends. It depends on whether you're being formal, whether you're in a hurry, or if you're trying to sound like a local who actually knows the slang.
Most beginners default to un momento, which is fine. It’s safe. But if you want to sound natural, you need more tools in your belt. Spanish is a language of nuance and, quite often, a language of diminutives that change the entire vibe of a sentence.
The Standard Go-To: Un Momento
If you want to be grammatically perfect and universally understood, un momento is your bread and butter. It works in Spain, Argentina, Equatorial Guinea, and East LA. It’s the vanilla ice cream of Spanish phrases—reliable, but maybe a little boring.
Wait.
If you add a "por favor" to the end, you’re golden in any professional setting. Un momento, por favor. Use this when a waiter asks for your order and you haven't looked at the menu yet. Or when the bank teller asks for your ID and it’s buried at the bottom of your bag. It’s polite. It’s crisp.
But here is the thing: native speakers rarely leave it that simple in casual conversation. They’ll usually throw in a verb. Espere un momento (Wait a moment—formal) or Espera un momento (Wait a moment—informal). The difference is just one letter, but that "e" vs "a" tells the person exactly how much social distance you're putting between you. If you're talking to a grandma you just met, use the "e." If it's your buddy, use the "a." Simple, right?
The Magic of the Diminutive: Un Momentito
If you've spent more than five minutes in Mexico or Colombia, you’ve heard it. Un momentito. Spanish speakers love adding -ito or -ita to things to make them smaller, cuter, or more immediate. When someone says un momentito, they aren't just saying "one moment." They are psychologically shrinking the wait time. It’s a way of saying, "Hey, I know I’m making you wait, but it’s just a tiny little bit, I promise!"
Ironically, in many Latin American cultures, a momentito can last anywhere from thirty seconds to twenty minutes. It’s a linguistic cushion.
There is also the double diminutive: un momentititito. If you hear that, the person is usually joking about how stressed they are or how quickly they are trying to move. It’s endearing. Use it when you're fumbling with your keys and your friend is waiting in the car. It signals that you’re rushing.
Moving Beyond the Word "Moment"
Sometimes, you don't even use the word for moment. Language is weird like that.
💡 You might also like: Virgo Love Horoscope for Today and Tomorrow: Why You Need to Stop Fixing People
Think about how in English we say "Hold on" or "Hang tight." We aren't actually asking someone to physically hold onto something. Spanish has the same logic.
Dame un segundo
"Give me a second." This is arguably more common in casual street Spanish than the literal "one moment." It sounds active. It sounds like you're in the middle of a task.
- Dame un segundo, que estoy terminando esto. (Give me a second, I’m finishing this.)
Permítame
This is high-level "pro" Spanish. If you are in a business meeting or a fancy hotel, you don't say "wait." You say permítame. It translates to "permit me" or "allow me." It’s usually followed by a verb, like permítame un segundo. It’s sophisticated. It makes you sound like you actually studied the language rather than just picking up phrases from Netflix.
Aguanta
Now, let's go the other direction. If you're in the Caribbean—think Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, or parts of Venezuela—you might hear aguanta. Literally, it means "endure" or "hold." In practice? It’s a very blunt "hold on."
Aguanta ahí. (Hold on there.)
Don't use this with your boss. Seriously. It’s way too informal and carries a bit of an edge, like you’re telling someone to pump the brakes.
Regional Flavors You Should Know
Spanish isn't a monolith. How you say one moment in Spanish in Madrid is going to feel different than in Buenos Aires.
In Spain, you’ll often hear vale, un segundo. The word vale is the Swiss Army knife of Spanish Spanish. It means okay, alright, sure, and "I hear you." Using it before your request for a moment makes the transition smoother.
In Argentina and Uruguay, you’ll run into the "voseo." Instead of espera, you’ll hear esperá. That tiny accent on the end changes the rhythm of the sentence. Esperá un cachito. Wait, what’s a cachito?
A cachito is a "little piece." It’s very common in the Southern Cone (Argentina/Chile/Uruguay) to ask for a "little piece of time."
📖 Related: Lo que nadie te dice sobre la moda verano 2025 mujer y por qué tu armario va a cambiar por completo
- ¿Me esperás un cachito? (Will you wait for me a little bit?)
It sounds incredibly local. If an English speaker drops cachito in a conversation in Buenos Aires, they’ll immediately get a smile and probably a more patient response.
The "Hold On" for Phone Calls
Phones change everything. If you’re on a call and need to put someone on hold, you don't usually say un momento. You use the verb mantener.
- Manténgase en la línea, por favor. (Stay on the line, please.)
If you’re just talking to a friend and the doorbell rings, you’d say no me cuelgues (don't hang up on me) or esperame tantito.
Tantito is a very Mexican expression. It’s like momentito, but focuses on the "amount" of time. It’s short, punchy, and very effective.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Language learners often overthink the grammar and forget the social context. Here are a few ways people trip up when trying to ask for a moment.
- Using "Parar": Beginners sometimes think "Stop" means "Wait." If you tell someone para, you are telling them to physically cease whatever they are doing. It’s jarring. If you want them to wait for you, use esperar.
- The "A" Problem: In English, we say "wait FOR me." In Spanish, the "for" is built into the verb esperar. So, don't say espera por mí. Just say espérame. It’s cleaner.
- Being Too Direct: In many Spanish-speaking cultures, directness can be perceived as rudeness. Just saying "Moment!" (¡Momento!) sounds like a command. Soften it with a "me das" (you give me) or "me permites" (you allow me).
The Non-Verbal "One Moment"
You can't talk about Spanish without talking about hands. Sometimes, you don't even need to speak.
If you're in a loud bar or across the street, the universal Spanish-speaking sign for "one moment" is holding your hand up with your index finger and thumb close together, as if you’re holding a tiny grape. This is the visual version of un momentito. It’s incredibly common in Spain and Latin America. It says "just a bit" without you having to scream over the music.
Another gesture involves holding up a flat palm, but slightly tilted. This is more of a "wait" or "stop" signal. Use the "tiny grape" gesture if you want to be friendly; use the flat palm if you’re genuinely overwhelmed and need people to back off for a second.
Why Accuracy Matters
You might think, "Does it really matter if I say un momento or un momentito?"
Strictly speaking, no. People will get what you mean. But language is about connection. When you use the right phrase for the right situation, you're showing that you understand the culture. You're showing that you've moved past the "translation" phase and into the "communication" phase.
👉 See also: Free Women Looking for Older Men: What Most People Get Wrong About Age-Gap Dating
Real fluency is knowing that un segundo is faster than un momento, and un momentito is the friendliest way to ask for patience.
Practical Situations and What to Say
Let's look at some real-world scenarios so you can see these in action.
Scenario A: You’re at a restaurant and the waiter is moving too fast.
- Perdón, ¿me da un segundito? Todavía no estamos listos. (Sorry, can you give me a little second? We aren't ready yet.)
- Why it works: The -ito on segundito makes it sound apologetic rather than demanding.
Scenario B: A friend is calling you while you’re checking out at a grocery store.
- ¡Aguántame! Ya casi salgo. (Hold on! I'm almost out.)
- Why it works: Aguántame is perfect for that slightly chaotic, "I'm doing something" vibe with friends.
Scenario C: You’re at a job interview and need to find a file on your laptop.
- Permítame un momento, por favor. Tengo el archivo aquí mismo. (Permit me a moment, please. I have the file right here.)
- Why it works: It maintains your professional dignity while you faff about with your computer.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Conversation
Stop trying to memorize a list. Instead, pick two of these phrases today and try to use them in your head.
- If you're a beginner: Stick with un momento, por favor. It is impossible to go wrong with this. It’s your safety net.
- If you want to sound more friendly: Start using un momentito. Watch how people react. You’ll notice they often relax a bit more because the diminutive sounds less formal and more human.
- If you're traveling to Mexico: Practice tantito. It’s the ultimate "insider" word for "a little bit" of anything, including time.
- Listen for the "ya": Often, you’ll hear Ya voy or Ya mismo. This means "I’m coming" or "Right now." It’s often used in conjunction with "one moment." For example: Un momento, ya voy. (One moment, I’m coming.)
The next time you find yourself needing to pause a conversation, don't panic. Take a breath. Choose the phrase that fits the "temperature" of the room. Whether it's a formal permítame or a casual dame un cachito, you're not just asking for time—you're speaking the language.
Start by practicing the "tiny grape" hand gesture. It’s the easiest way to bridge the gap while your brain looks for the right words. Spanish speakers are generally very patient with learners, especially if you show that you're trying to master the social nuances of the language.
Go ahead and try saying un momentito the next time you're at your local taco truck or talking to a Spanish-speaking neighbor. You might be surprised at how much a little suffix can change the whole conversation.