pasaba
“pasaba” means “was passing” in Spanish. It has 3 different meanings depending on context:
was passing, used to pass
Also: was going, went by
📝 In Action
Yo pasaba por esa calle todos los días.
A1I used to pass by that street every day.
¿Qué hora era? Él pasaba justo ahora.
A2What time was it? He was passing by just now.
La pelota pasaba cerca del poste, pero no entró.
A2The ball was passing close to the post, but it didn't go in.
was spending, used to spend
Also: was going through
📝 In Action
Ella pasaba las tardes leyendo en el jardín.
A2She used to spend the afternoons reading in the garden.
Yo pasaba mucho tiempo buscando un nuevo apartamento.
B1I was spending a lot of time looking for a new apartment.
Usted pasaba por un momento difícil el año pasado.
B1You (formal) were going through a difficult time last year.
was happening, was going on
📝 In Action
Mientras yo cocinaba, no sabía lo que pasaba afuera.
B1While I was cooking, I didn't know what was happening outside.
Él no entendía qué pasaba con la computadora.
B1He didn't understand what was going on with the computer.
En la ciudad, la vida pasaba lentamente.
B2In the city, life was passing slowly.
Indicative
Present
Imperfect
Preterite
Subjunctive
Present Subjunctive
Imperfect Subjunctive
Translate to Spanish
Words that translate to "pasaba" in Spanish:
was going→was happening→was passing→was spending→went by→✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: pasaba
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'pasaba' to describe a repeated habit in the past?
📚 More Resources
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Latin verb *passāre*, meaning 'to step' or 'to walk'. This root evolved to mean 'to move from one place to another' and later broadened to include the movement of time and events.
First recorded: Medieval Latin period
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'pasaba' the same as 'he passed'?
No. 'Pasaba' means 'he/she/I *was passing*,' 'he/she/I *used to pass*,' or 'it *was happening*.' It describes an ongoing action or a repeated habit in the past. If you want to say 'He passed (one time, completely finished),' you must use the preterite tense: 'Pasó'.
How do I know if 'pasaba' means 'I' or 'he/she'?
You usually need context! Since 'yo' (I) and 'él/ella/usted' (he/she/formal you) share the form 'pasaba', Spanish speakers rely on the subject being stated (Yo pasaba) or clearly understood from the conversation.