pasar por la aduana
/pasaɾ poɾ la adwana/from spelling rules
The English phrase 'clear customs' is translated into Spanish as pasar por la aduana.
This phrase is used to describe the process of passing through the official checkpoint where government officers check luggage and goods entering a country.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the verb pasar (to pass), the preposition por (through/by) and la aduana (the customs).
Which one should you use?
While pasar por la aduana is the most common way to describe the physical act of moving through the checkpoint, pasar la aduana is also used to mean the process of clearing customs.
Did you know?
- The word aduana has an ancient lineage that traces back to Sumerian cuneiform tablets, via Persian and Arabic, before entering Spanish.
- While pasar por la aduana is used for travel, the term aduana is also used in legal contexts to describe the tariffs and taxes applied to imported goods.
- In some Spanish-speaking countries, la aduana can refer not just to the process but to the specific physical building or the government agency itself.
Examples in context
- Necesito pasar aduanaI need to clear customs
- Debe realizar el despacho de aduana antes de continuarYou must clear customs before proceeding
- Vamos a pasar por aduana juntosLet's go through customs together
- ¿Tiene algo que declarar?Do you have anything to declare?
- ¿Hay algún artículo prohibido que deba conocer?Are there any prohibited items I should know about?
- Tengo que pasar por la aduana antes de salir del aeropuerto.I have to clear customs before leaving the airport.
- Tenemos que pasar por la aduana ahora.We have to clear customs now.
- Espero que sea rápido pasar por la aduana.I hope it is quick to clear customs.
- Él terminó de pasar por la aduana hace poco.He finished clearing customs a moment ago.
Example conversation
Lucía and Mateo are arriving at an international airport.
- LucíaMateo, ¿ya tienes tus maletas?Mateo, do you have your suitcases already?
- MateoSí, solo falta pasar por la aduana.Yes, we just need to clear customs.
- LucíaEstá bien, caminemos hacia la salida.Okay, let's walk toward the exit.
- MateoPerfecto, vamos rápido.Perfect, let's go fast.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries aduana, la, pasar, por, CC BY-SA 4.0.
