¿Puedo pasar?
The English phrase "may I come in?" is translated into Spanish as ¿Puedo pasar?
¿Puedo pasar? is a polite request used to ask for permission to enter a room or a building.
What does it mean word for word?
The verb pasar literally means "to pass" or "to go through", which is why it is used to express the idea of coming in within this context.
Which one should you use?
While ¿Puedo pasar? is the most common way to ask to come in, ¿Puedo entrar? is a more direct way to ask to enter a space.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase uses the first-person singular conjugation of the verb poder (to be able to/may) followed by the infinitive pasar.
When do people say it?
If you ask ¿Puedo pasar?, a common and natural response you will hear is Adelante (Go ahead / Come in).
Did you know?
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, it is common to knock and say ¿Puedo pasar? even if a door is already wide open, as a sign of respect for the occupant's privacy.
- The word pasar is so versatile that it can also mean 'to happen' or 'to occur', as in ¿Qué pasa?, which translates to 'What is happening?'
- The verb pasar shares a common ancestor with the English word 'pass', both tracing back to the Latin word 'passus', which means 'a step'.
Examples in context
- Disculpe, ¿puedo pasar?Excuse me, may I come in?
- Si no es molestia, ¿puedo pasar?If it's not a bother, may I come in?
Example conversation
Javier knocks on Lucía's office door during a meeting.
- Javier¿Puedo pasar?May I come in?
- LucíaSí, Javier, adelante.Yes, Javier, come in.
- JavierGracias, Lucía.Thank you, Lucía.
- LucíaNo hay problema.No problem.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries pasar, CC BY-SA 4.0.
