no pasa nada
/ˌno ˌpasa ˈnada/
In Spanish, 'no big deal' is said as no pasa nada.
The phrase no pasa nada is used to reassure someone that a situation is not serious or that a mistake is forgiven. It is a common response to an apology or a way to downplay a problem.
What does it mean word for word?
Literally, no pasa nada means 'nothing happens'.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase no pasa nada is grammatically fixed and does not change its form based on the subject or the severity of the situation.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˌno ˌpasa ˈnada/
When do people say it?
When someone apologizes to you, you can use no pasa nada to let them know it is not a problem. Other informal ways to achieve a similar effect include No te preocupes (Don't worry) or Tranquilo/a, no hay problema (don't worry, no big deal).
Did you know?
- The word nada comes from the Latin nāta, which literally meant 'no born thing'. It evolved from a phrase describing a soul that was never born to mean 'nothing'.
- Beyond just apologizing for mistakes, no pasa nada is sometimes used as a philosophical statement. In this context, it functions as an affirmation of stoicism and resilience in the face of life's challenges.
- In some Spanish-speaking cultures, saying no pasa nada with a flat tone can actually be perceived as dismissive. It may imply that the other person's mistake was so tiny it did not even register as an event.
Examples in context
- Si se rompe, no pasa nada.If it breaks, it's no big deal.This sentence shows how to use no pasa nada to describe a consequence of something breaking.Tatoeba #8322201 by arh, translation #10346804 by LimeGreenTeknii
- No pasa nada si no puedes venir esta noche.No big deal if you can't come tonight.
- Olvidé traer el postre, pero no te preocupes, puedo comprar uno.I forgot to bring dessert, but no big deal, I can buy one.
- Olvidé devolver el libro a tiempo, pero tranquilo/a, no hay problema.I forgot to return the book on time, but don't worry, no big deal.
- No pasa nada si llegas tarde.It's no big deal if you arrive late.
- Tranquilo, no pasa nada.Calm down, it's no big deal.
Example conversation
Mateo apologizes to Elena for forgetting her book.
- ElenaMateo, ¿trajiste mi libro?Mateo, did you bring my book?
- MateoLo siento, Elena, lo olvidé en casa.I'm sorry, Elena, I forgot it at home.
- ElenaNo pasa nada, me lo das mañana.It's no big deal, you can give it to me tomorrow.
- MateoGracias, eres muy amable.Thanks, you are very kind.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry no pasa nada, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries nada, no, no pasa nada, pasa, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
