待ってたのよ

was waiting

→ 待つ

phrase Rare #20,417

was waiting A casual, emphatic way to say “was waiting” or “have been waiting.” The sentence-ending のよ adds explanation or emphasis and is traditionally associated with feminine speech, though it is not exclusively feminine.

JA: ずっとあなたを待ってたのよ。

EN: I've been waiting for you.

私達は長い間、トムを待ってたのよ。

We’ve been waiting for Tom for a long time.

妹から電話があって待ってたのよ

I was waiting because my younger sister called me.

— 魔女の宅急便 (1989)

ずっと待ってたのよ。

I've been waiting for you this whole time.

待ってたのよ

I've been waiting for you.

— フィールド・オブ・ドリームス (1989)

あの男の子ずいぶん待ってたのよ

That boy had been waiting for quite a while.

— 魔女の宅急便 (1989)

一日中、トムを待ってたのよ。

I waited for Tom all day.

ホテルの前で一人で待ってたのよ。

I was waiting alone in front of the hotel.