The French phrase attendre que means “to wait for” or “to wait until” something happens. In standard French, it is followed by a verb in the subjunctive.

Meaning and form

The phrase joins attendre (“to wait”) to que (“that”). It introduces an event or action that someone is waiting for. In English, the phrase often becomes “wait until” or simply “wait for.”

Use attendre que before a clause with its own subject and verb. The verb after que is normally in the subjunctive. Before a vowel, que shortens to qu’.

• J’attends que le bus arrive. “I’m waiting for the bus to arrive.”
• Nous attendrons que tu sois prêt. “We’ll wait until you’re ready.”
• Elle attend qu’il l’appelle. “She’s waiting for him to call her.”

The form attendre que can refer to a short wait, a long delay, or holding back until the right time. It does not usually mean “to expect.” For that meaning, French uses s’attendre à ce que.

Common uses

Waiting for an event

Use attendre que when someone waits for an event or change to take place.

• Attends que la pluie cesse. “Wait until the rain stops.”
• J’attends que le magasin ouvre. “I’m waiting for the shop to open.”
• Ils attendent que les résultats soient publiés. “They’re waiting for the results to be published.”
• On va attendre que tout le monde soit là. “We’ll wait until everyone is here.”

Waiting for someone to act

The phrase can also describe waiting for another person to do something.

• J’attends que tu me répondes. “I’m waiting for you to answer me.”
• Elle attend que son frère rentre. “She’s waiting for her brother to come home.”
• Le professeur attend que les élèves se taisent. “The teacher is waiting for the students to be quiet.”
• N’attendez pas qu’on vous le demande. “Don’t wait for someone to ask you.”

Holding back until the right time

In a wider or figurative sense, the phrase can mean delaying an action until a condition is met.

• Il attend que le moment soit venu. “He’s waiting until the time is right.”
• Nous attendons que la situation se calme avant d’agir. “We’re waiting for the situation to calm down before we act.”
• Elle attend que les choses changent. “She’s waiting for things to change.”
• Ils attendent que le prix baisse avant d’acheter. “They’re waiting for the price to fall before buying.”

The subjunctive after attendre que

In standard French, the verb after attendre que takes the subjunctive. The tense of attendre can change, but the verb in the following clause still commonly uses the subjunctive.

• J’attends qu’il vienne. “I’m waiting for him to come.”
• J’ai attendu qu’il vienne. “I waited for him to come.”
• J’attendrai qu’il vienne. “I’ll wait for him to come.”
• Attendez qu’elle ait fini. “Wait until she has finished.”

The subjunctive forms soit, ait, and vienne appear in these examples. A common error is to use the indicative after attendre que.

• J’attends qu’il soit prêt. “I’m waiting for him to be ready.”
• Not: J’attends qu’il est prêt.

When the subject is the same

When the person waiting is also the person who will act, French often uses attendre de followed by an infinitive. This can be more direct than attendre que.

• J’attends de voir le médecin. “I’m waiting to see the doctor.”
• Elle attend d’avoir plus de temps. “She’s waiting until she has more time.”
• Nous attendons de connaître la réponse. “We’re waiting to find out the answer.”

Both forms are possible in some contexts, but they frame the action differently. J’attends de partir means “I’m waiting to leave.” J’attends que tu partes means “I’m waiting for you to leave.”

Related expressions and contrasts

• Jusqu’à ce que means “until” and is followed by the subjunctive. Reste ici jusqu’à ce que je revienne. “Stay here until I come back.”
• En attendant que means “while waiting for” or “until.” En attendant que le repas soit prêt, nous lisons. “While we wait for the meal to be ready, we’re reading.”
• S’attendre à ce que means “to expect that.” It is not the same as attendre que. Je m’attends à ce qu’il refuse. “I expect him to refuse.”
• Espérer que means “to hope that.” It usually takes the indicative when the hope is stated directly. J’espère qu’il viendra. “I hope he’ll come.”

When attendre is followed by a noun rather than a clause, it does not need que.

• J’attends le train. “I’m waiting for the train.”
• Elle attend son ami. “She’s waiting for her friend.”

Summary

Attendre que means “to wait for” or “to wait until” an event happens. In standard French, it is followed by the subjunctive. Use attendre de with an infinitive when the subject is the same, and s’attendre à ce que to mean “to expect that.”