To look forward to - in Spanish

Question

To look forward to

How does one say the following in Spanish.

I look forward to Christmas every year.

I am looking forward to my birthday tomorrow.

I have heard and "seen" something that included the word "ansioso"

but don't understand that because "ansioso" mean "anxious

Gracias.

Answer 1

I don't think anyone has found a perfect equivalent to "look forward to", probably because we express our thoughts in a different way. As Julian said, "esperar" doesn't really need any more forwardness, and "Espero con ansia(s) la Navidad" sounds rather exaggerated to me; it sounds as if you are suffering an endless wait. I personally don't think I've ever heard a Spaniard saying adding "con ansia(s)" or "con anticipación" in a sentence like this, and I wouldn't say it myself. Maybe "con ganas? Anyway, to express a similar thing in a similar situation, people are more likely to say things like:

¡Qué ganas tengo de que llegue la Navidad!

Espero que llegue la Navidad pronto.

A ver si llega ya la Navidad.

Thank you Lazarus - It has been bothering me for a while. I could never get a good answer from a local here. - ian-hill, Apr 6, 2011

Answer 2

Esperar is common in these situations. You can also add intensity with Esperar con ganas ........

Could you also use aguardar in this context, please Julian? - FELIZ77, Apr 6, 2011

I disagree, since con anticipación means something "in advance", rather than "with anticipation." - Deanski, Apr 6, 2011

With great respect Deanski you /a person would anticipate something in advance so I see no inconsistency between the two concepts - FELIZ77, Apr 6, 2011

@Feliz: Well in that case, it would be unnecessary, since, to quote Guillermo, you can't wait for something you already have. You don't say "to wait in advance", right? - Deanski, Apr 6, 2011

Yes Deanski it is true you would not wait for something you already have :) - FELIZ77, Apr 6, 2011

Cancel "anticipación." "Ganas," as Lazarus mentioned, is more appropriate - 005faa61, Apr 6, 2011

Answer 3

You probably heard "espero con ansias". "Esperar" already means anticipating. You can't wait for something you already have or have done.

"Esperar con ansias" gives more emphasis to that anticipation. Like you can't wait.

I think that is the one I need. Gracias Guillermo - ian-hill, Apr 6, 2011

Answer 4

Thank you both - so is the following correct?

Espero con ansias a Navidad. = I look forward to Christmas.

Yes, that works. - Gekkosan, Apr 6, 2011

I would make a small change: "Espero con ansias a la Navidad". - 00e657d4, Apr 6, 2011

Answer 5

¡Ansiosamente espero la navidad!

For me that brings us back to "being anxious" - ian-hill, Apr 6, 2011