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📖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?

A1

What's happening?

El autobús pasa a las diez.

A1

The bus passes at ten.

Pasa la sal, por favor.

A1

Pass the salt, please.

Mi hermana pasa mucho tiempo en la biblioteca.

A2

My sister spends a lot of time in the library.

Pasa, pasa, no te quedes en la puerta.

B1

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

él/ella/ustedpasa
yopaso
túpasas
ellos/ellas/ustedespasan
nosotrospasamos
vosotrospasáis

imperfect

él/ella/ustedpasaba
yopasaba
túpasabas
ellos/ellas/ustedespasaban
nosotrospasábamos
vosotrospasabais

preterite

él/ella/ustedpasó
yopasé
túpasaste
ellos/ellas/ustedespasaron
nosotrospasamos
vosotrospasasteis

subjunctive

present

él/ella/ustedpase
yopase
túpases
ellos/ellas/ustedespasen
nosotrospasemos
vosotrospaséis

imperfect

él/ella/ustedpasara
yopasara
túpasaras
ellos/ellas/ustedespasaran
nosotrospasáramos
vosotrospasarais
View All Tenses & Moods →

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: pasa

Question 1 of 2

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

📚 More Resources

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.