Pasar: to pass
Pronunciation: pah-SAHR (stress the capital letters)
Pasar means “to pass” in English.
Quick answer
- Meaning: to pass, to happen, to spend time
- How to say it: pah-SAHR
- Present: yo paso, tú pasas
- Level: Elementary (A2)
What “pasar” means and how to use it
Pasar means “to pass” or “to go by,” and also “to happen” and “to spend time.” The reflexive form is less common.
Other translations: to happen, to spend (time), to come in.
How to conjugate “pasar”
| Who | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| yo | paso | I |
| tú | pasas | you (informal) |
| él, ella, usted | pasa | he, she, you (formal) |
| nosotros | pasamos | we |
| ellos, ustedes | pasan | they, you all |
| Past (preterite) | yo pasé, él pasó | I / he or she |
| Past participle | pasado | used with haber |
Examples with audio
- ¿Qué pasa?What is happening?
- Paso mucho tiempo en la computadora.I spend a lot of time on the computer.
- El tren pasa por aquí cada hora.The train passes by here every hour.
Usage tip
“¿Qué te pasa?” asks what is wrong with you, and “pasarla bien” means to have a good time in Latin America. Do not use pasar for “to pass a test”; use aprobar.
Frequently asked questions
How do you say “to pass” in Spanish?
“to pass” in Spanish is “pasar.” It is pronounced pah-SAHR, with the stress on the syllable in capital letters.
How do you pronounce “pasar”?
Say pah-SAHR. The syllable in capital letters gets the stress. Press the speaker button at the top of this page to hear it.
What is the past tense of “pasar”?
In the preterite, “yo” is “pasé” and “él” is “pasó.” The past participle is “pasado.”
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Related words
More: words with several meanings · Spanish glossary · Lessons