pasar el rato
/pasaɾ el ɾato/from spelling rules
To hang out in Spanish is pasar el rato.
Pasar el rato is used to describe spending time socially without a specific objective or intense activity. While the verb salir is commonly used to mean both 'to hang out' or 'to go out' in many Spanish-speaking countries, pasar el rato focuses specifically on the act of spending time together.
Meaning: to socialize (verb)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase pasar el rato literally translates to 'to pass the time'.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico, the expression convivir is common to mean 'to socialize' or 'to spend time with others'.
How does it change in a sentence?
The gerund form of this phrase, used for 'hanging out', is pasando el rato.
How do you pronounce it?
/pasaɾ el ɾato/
Did you know?
- While pasar el rato describes relaxing, the word rato comes from the Latin raptus, which means 'seized' or 'snatched'.
- In some Spanish-speaking cultures, using salir to mean 'hanging out' can be misinterpreted as 'dating' depending on the context of the relationship.
- In some Caribbean dialects, the expression echar broma is used when the 'hanging out' involves a lot of joking and teasing.
Examples in context
- Es divertido pasar el rato con él.It's fun to hang out with him.This sentence is useful for showing how to express that it is fun to use pasar el rato with someone.Tatoeba #4289890 by DarkHollow, translation #4289372 by CH
- Deberías ir a pasar el rato con tus amigos.You should go hang out with your friends.This sentence is useful for suggesting that someone go and pasar el rato with their friends.Tatoeba #4936020 by Peripes, translation #4935577 by CK
- Tom acostumbraba a pasar el rato con Mary y John.Tom used to hang out with Mary and John.This sentence is useful for describing a past habit of using pasar el rato with specific people.Tatoeba #5799407 by arh, translation #1867813 by CK
- ¿Podríamos hacer planes para pasar tiempo juntos?Could we make plans to hang out?
- Hoy quiero salir con mis amigosToday, I want to hang out with my friends
- Vamos a juntarnos en el parqueLet's hang out at the park
- Me encantaría convivir contigo más seguidoI would love to hang out with you more often
- ¿Quieres salir a tomar algo esta noche?Do you want to go out for a drink tonight?
- Vamos a juntarnos en el parque para jugar al fútbol.Let's get together at the park to play soccer.
- Hoy quiero salir con mis amigos a bailar.Today, I want to go out dancing with my friends.
- Me encantaría convivir contigo más seguido y conocernos mejor.I would love to hang out with you more often and get to know each other better.
- 3 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about their weekend plans.
- SofíaHola Mateo, ¿quieres pasar el rato hoy?Hi Mateo, do you want to hang out today?
- MateoSí, me encantaría. ¿A dónde vamos?Yes, I'd love to. Where are we going?
- SofíaPodemos pasar el rato en el parque.We can hang out in the park.
- MateoPerfecto, nos vemos allí en una hora.Perfect, I'll see you there in an hour.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry pasar el rato, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries el, pasar, rato, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
