pasado
“pasado” means “last” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
last, past
Also: overcooked, stale, out of fashion
📝 In Action
El año pasado viajé a México.
A1Last year I traveled to Mexico.
La semana pasada no tuvimos clase.
A1Last week we didn't have class.
El arroz está un poco pasado, pero se puede comer.
B1The rice is a little overcooked, but it's edible.
Ese estilo está pasado de moda.
B2That style is out of fashion.
the past
Also: background
📝 In Action
Es importante no olvidar el pasado.
A2It's important not to forget the past.
Ella tiene un pasado difícil, pero es muy fuerte.
B1She has a difficult past, but she is very strong.
Déjalo en el pasado y sigue adelante.
B1Leave it in the past and move on.
🔀 Commonly Confused With
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: pasado
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'pasado' to mean 'last month'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Latin word 'passātus', which was the 'past participle' (a form of a verb that can act like an adjective) of the verb 'passāre', meaning 'to step' or 'to pass'. This is why 'pasado' carries the core idea of something that has already gone by.
First recorded: Around the 12th century
Cognates (Related words)
💡 Master Spanish
Take your Spanish to the next level. Read 200+ illustrated and narrated Spanish stories tailored to your level with the Inklingo app!
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between 'el año pasado' and 'el último año'?
Great question! 'El año pasado' refers to the calendar year right before the current one (e.g., if it's 2024, 'el año pasado' is 2023). 'El último año' means 'the final year' of something, like 'el último año de la universidad' (the final year of university). So, one is about recency, the other is about finality.
Why does 'pasado' sometimes end in '-a' (pasada)?
When 'pasado' is used as an adjective (a describing word), it has to match the noun it's describing. Spanish nouns have a gender, either masculine or feminine. So you say 'el año pasado' because 'año' is masculine, but 'la semana pasada' because 'semana' (week) is feminine.