pasar por encima
/pasaɾ poɾ enθima/from spelling rules
To step over in Spanish is pasar por encima.
The phrase pasar por encima means to move carefully to ensure one does not tread on someone or something. In certain informal contexts in South American countries like Argentina and Uruguay, the verb saltear can also be used to mean to step over or to skip.
Meaning: To carefully move to ensure one doesn't tread on someone or something (verb)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the verb pasar (to pass) and the prepositional phrase por encima (over/above).
Is it said differently in some regions?
In some South American countries, particularly Argentina and Uruguay, the verb saltear is used to mean to step over or to skip.
How does it change in a sentence?
When pasar por encima is used with a direct object (the thing being stepped over), it requires the preposition de, forming the phrase pasar por encima de.
How do you pronounce it?
/pasaɾ poɾ enθima/
Did you know?
- If you use the verb saltear in a culinary context in Spain, it does not mean to step over, but rather to 'sauté' food in a pan.
- The phrase pasar por encima can be used to describe a victory so dominant that the opponent was completely overwhelmed, similar to the English 'to steamroll'.
- Beyond physical movement, pasar por encima is frequently used as an idiom to describe ignoring someone's feelings or treating them with indifference.
Examples in context
- Para ingresar al jardín, por favor pase por encima del pequeño riachuelo.To enter the garden, please step over the small stream.
- Si desea llegar al otro lado del camino, debe cruzar por encima de la cerca.If you want to reach the other side of the road, you must step over the fence.
- Tienes que saltar por encima del charco para llegar al otro lado.You have to step/jump over the puddle to get to the other side.
- Ten cuidado de pasar por encima de ese cable.Be careful to step over that cable.
- Ten cuidado de no pasar por encima de las flores.Be careful not to step over the flowers.
- No quiero pasar por encima de tu dibujo.I don't want to step over your drawing.
- Él tuvo que pasar por encima de la rama.He had to step over the branch.
Example conversation
Lucía and Alejandro are walking through a garden with many low plants.
- LucíaMira, hay cables en el suelo.Look, there are cables on the ground.
- AlejandroVoy a pasar por encima de ellos con cuidado.I am going to step over them carefully.
- LucíaTen cuidado de no tropezar, Alejandro.Be careful not to trip, Alejandro.
- AlejandroNo te preocupes, ya pasé.Don't worry, I already stepped over them.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
