pasa
“pasa” means “he/she/it passes” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
he/she/it passes, it happens, pass!
Also: he/she/it spends, come in!
📝 In Action
¿Qué pasa?
A1What's happening?
El autobús pasa a las diez.
A1The bus passes at ten.
Pasa la sal, por favor.
A1Pass the salt, please.
Mi hermana pasa mucho tiempo en la biblioteca.
A2My sister spends a lot of time in the library.
Pasa, pasa, no te quedes en la puerta.
B1Come in, come in, don't stay at the door.
raisin
Also: prune
📝 In Action
Me encantan las galletas con pasas.
A2I love cookies with raisins.
El niño no quería comerse la pasa.
B1The child didn't want to eat the raisin.
Para hacer este postre, necesitas un puñado de pasas.
B1To make this dessert, you need a handful of raisins.
Indicative
Present
Imperfect
Preterite
Subjunctive
Present Subjunctive
Imperfect Subjunctive
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: pasa
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'pasa' to mean 'raisin'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
The word 'pasa' has a double origin from Latin. The verb form comes from the Latin 'passāre', meaning 'to step' or 'to pass'. The noun form (raisin) comes from the phrase 'uva passa', meaning a grape that has been 'passed' or spread out to dry.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between 'pasa' and 'pase'?
Both can mean 'come in' or 'pass'. 'Pasa' is the informal 'tú' command you'd use with a friend. 'Pase' is the formal 'usted' command you'd use with someone you don't know well, or as a sign of respect. 'Pase' is also a different verb form used in other situations.
How do I know if 'pasa' is a verb or a noun (raisin)?
Look for clues in the sentence! If you see 'la pasa' or 'una pasa' before it, it's definitely the noun 'raisin'. If it's part of a question like '¿Qué pasa?' or used as a command, it's the verb.
Is '¿Qué pasa?' rude?
Not usually! It's a very common, neutral way to ask 'What's happening?' or 'What's wrong?'. With friends, it's just like saying 'What's up?'. Your tone of voice is what makes it sound concerned, curious, or annoyed.