Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| pasa | /ˈpasa/ | feminine |
| pansa | /pansa/ (from spelling rules) | feminine |
| acebibe | /aθeˈbibe/ /aseˈbibe/ |
masculine |
| uva pasa | /uba pasa/ (from spelling rules) | feminine |
| uva pansida | /uba pansida/ (from spelling rules) | feminine |
The word pasa is used to mean raisin, especially in culinary contexts. While the full noun phrase uva pasa is the complete way to say it, speakers frequently use the word pasa on its own.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase uva pasa literally translates to 'passed grape' or 'gone grape', which describes the grape that has undergone the drying process.
Which one should you use?
The form acebibe is a masculine noun used for a raisin, and uva pansida is a feminine alternative.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, the term sultana may be used to refer to a specific type of raisin. In parts of South America, such as Argentina, Uruguay and Chile, people might use the term pasa de uva.
How does it change in a sentence?
Pasa is a feminine noun. To refer to multiple raisins, use the plural form pasas.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈpasa/
Did you know?
- In Spain, the word sultana is used for specific raisins, linking the fruit to the title of a female Ottoman ruler.
- The word acebibe used for a raisin is a linguistic fossil from the time of Moorish rule in the Iberian Peninsula, having been borrowed directly from Arabic.
- Despite having the same meaning, pasa and acebibe belong to entirely different linguistic families, one being Latin and the other Arabic.
Examples in context
- Me gusta comer pasasI like to eat raisins
- Añade unas uvas pasas al postreAdd some raisins to the dessert
- ¿Quieres unas pasitas en tu helado?Do you want some raisins in your ice cream?
- Los bizcochos de pasas son deliciosos.Raisin cakes are delicious.
- A mi hermana le encanta comer uvas pasas.My sister loves to eat raisins.
- Las pasitas son un ingrediente común en la repostería.Raisins are a common ingredient in baking.
- Hoy compré un pan con nueces y pasas.Today I bought a bread with nuts and raisins.
- La pasa es muy dulce.The raisin is very sweet.
- Añade una pasa a la mezcla.Add a raisin to the mixture.
- No me gusta la pasa negra.I do not like the black raisin.
Example conversation
Mateo and Sofía are baking together in the kitchen.
- MateoSofía, ¿dónde está la pasa?Sofía, where are the raisins?
- SofíaEstán en el armario, Mateo.They are in the cupboard, Mateo.
- MateoYa las vi, gracias.I see them now, thanks.
- SofíaPonle poca pasa a la masa.Put a few raisins in the dough.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “raisin” translations and entries pasa, acebibe, 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 acebibe, pasa, uva, CC BY-SA 4.0.
