📖2 definitions

📚 pasa has 2 definitions

A person handing a salt shaker to another person across a dinner table.

pasa

/PAH-sah/

VerbA1regular ar

he/she/it passes?movement, like a bus,it happens?an event occurring,pass!?a command, telling someone to do something

Also:he/she/it spends?referring to time,come in!?an invitation to enter

Quick Reference

infinitivepasar

gerundpasando

past Participlepasado

📝 In Action

¿Qué pasa?

What's happening?

El autobús pasa a las diez.

The bus passes at ten.

Pasa la sal, por favor.

Pass the salt, please.

Mi hermana pasa mucho tiempo en la biblioteca.

My sister spends a lot of time in the library.

Pasa, pasa, no te quedes en la puerta.

Come in, come in, don't stay at the door.

Word Connections

Synonyms

ocurre (it happens)
sucede (it happens)
transcurre (it passes (time))

Antonyms

se queda (he/she/it stays)
se detiene (he/she/it stops)

Common Collocations

pasar el tiempo – to pass the time
pasar por alto – to overlook
pasar la página – to turn the page, move on

Idioms & Expressions

¿Qué pasa? – A very common greeting, like 'What's up?' or 'What's going on?'.
Lo que pasa es que... – A phrase used to start an explanation or excuse, like 'The thing is...'.

💡 Grammar Points

Two Forms in One

'Pasa' can be a statement about someone else ('él pasa' - he passes) or a command you give to a friend ('tú pasa' - pass!). The context and tone of voice make the meaning clear.

The Super-Verb 'Pasar'

'Pasa' comes from 'pasar,' a verb you'll see everywhere. It can mean 'to pass,' 'to happen,' 'to spend time,' or 'to enter,' depending on the situation.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Asking 'What's up?'

Mistake: "¿Qué es pasa?"

Correction: ¿Qué pasa? The verb 'ser' (is) isn't needed here. Spanish just asks 'What happens?' directly.

⭐ Usage Tips

Answering the Door

If someone knocks, you can simply say '¡Pasa!' or '¡Pase!' (more formal) to mean 'Come in!'

🔄 Conjugations

indicative

present

yopaso

túpasas

él/ella/ustedpasa

nosotrospasamos

vosotrospasáis

ellos/ellas/ustedespasan

preterite

yopasé

túpasaste

él/ella/ustedpasó

nosotrospasamos

vosotrospasasteis

ellos/ellas/ustedespasaron

imperfect

yopasaba

túpasabas

él/ella/ustedpasaba

nosotrospasábamos

vosotrospasabais

ellos/ellas/ustedespasaban

subjunctive

present

yopase

túpases

él/ella/ustedpase

nosotrospasemos

vosotrospaséis

ellos/ellas/ustedespasen

imperfect

yopasara

túpasaras

él/ella/ustedpasara

nosotrospasáramos

vosotrospasarais

ellos/ellas/ustedespasaran

View All Tenses & Moods →

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: pasa

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence uses 'pasa' to mean 'raisin'?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

pasar(to pass, to happen) - verb

pasado(past) - adjective/noun

paso(step) - noun

pasillo(hallway) - noun

pasajero(passenger) - noun

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.