pasar
/paˈsaɾ/
To pass in Spanish is pasar.
The verb pasar is used to describe moving or being moved from one place to another. It can also mean to go through or undergo an experience or a physical space. To express the specific meaning of 'to pass by' or 'to go through' a place, use the phrase pasar por.
Meaning: to move or be moved from one place to another (verb)
Which one should you use?
While pasar is the general verb for moving from one place to another, the noun pase refers to a document granting permission to pass or to go and come. The noun paso refers to an opening, road or track that is available for passing.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The third-person singular preterite form pasó is commonly used to state or ask what happened in the past.
How do you pronounce it?
/paˈsaɾ/
Did you know?
- The expression pasar de alguien means to ignore someone or to no longer care about them, implying you are 'passing over' their importance.
- The phrase pasar hambre does not mean to move through hunger, but literally 'to go hungry' or starve.
- The English word 'pass' and the Spanish verb pasar share the same distant ancestor, the Latin word 'passus', which means 'a step'.
Examples in context
- No te dejaré pasar.I will not let you pass.This sentence uses the form pasar to show the act of letting someone move through.Tatoeba #1468402 by marcelostockle, translation #1110512 by Scott
- ¿Me pasarías la sal?Would you pass me the salt?This sentence uses the form pasar to request that an object be moved to someone.Tatoeba #1405531 by marcelostockle, translation #25734 by CK
- No sé qué va a pasar.I don't know what will pass.This sentence uses the form pasar to express uncertainty about an event occurring.Tatoeba #455700 by Shishir, translation #454495 by FeuDRenais
- ¡Felicitaciones! Aprobaste el examen de matemáticas con una excelente calificación.Congratulations! You passed the math exam with an excellent grade.
- Después de tanto estudio, logré superar el difícil examen de ingreso a la universidad.After so much studying, I managed to pass the difficult university entrance exam.
- ¡Sí! Saqué una A en el examen de inglés. Estoy muy contento con mi resultado.Yes! I got an A on the English exam. I am very happy with my result.
- 87 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Daniel and María are walking through a narrow hallway.
- DanielPerdón, ¿puedo pasar?Excuse me, can I pass?
- MaríaSí, Daniel, deja que yo me mueva.Yes, Daniel, let me move.
- DanielGracias, ahora puedo pasar.Thanks, now I can pass.
- MaríaDe nada, María ya se quitó.You're welcome, María already moved out of the way.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “pass” translations and entries pasar, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries pasar, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
