A bright red passenger train engine moving quickly past a small, stationary blue train station building.

pasando

/pa-san-do/

passing?moving by or through a place,happening?when an event is occurring

Also:spending (time)?used in phrases like 'having a good time',handing over?giving an object to someone,going through?experiencing a situation

Quick Reference

infinitivepasar

gerundpasando

past Participlepasado

📝 In Action

¿Qué está pasando aquí?

What is happening here?

Estaba pasando por tu calle cuando te vi.

I was passing by your street when I saw you.

Lo estamos pasando muy bien en las vacaciones.

We are having a very good time on vacation.

Mi hermana me está pasando la sal.

My sister is passing me the salt.

Ella está pasando por un momento difícil.

She is going through a difficult time.

Word Connections

Synonyms

ocurriendo (occurring)
sucediendo (happening)
transcurriendo (passing (of time))

Antonyms

deteniéndose (stopping)
quedándose (staying)

Common Collocations

pasando el rato – passing the time, hanging out
pasando la página – turning the page, moving on from something
pasando de algo – ignoring something, not caring about something

Idioms & Expressions

Se me está pasando el arroz. – I'm getting too old (to get married, have kids, etc.).

💡 Grammar Points

The Spanish '-ing' Form

'Pasando' is the '-ing' version of the verb 'pasar'. You almost always use it right after a form of 'estar' (to be) to describe an action that is happening right now. For example, 'Estoy pasando' means 'I am passing'.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Not for Everything '-ing'

Mistake: "Using 'pasando' as a descriptive word, like 'un tren pasando' for 'a passing train'."

Correction: In English, '-ing' words can describe nouns (a 'running' man). In Spanish, you can't usually do this. You would say 'un tren que pasa' (a train that is passing). 'Pasando' is for actions in progress, not descriptions.

⭐ Usage Tips

How to Say You're 'Having a Time'

A super common and natural phrase is 'pasarlo bien/mal', which means 'to have a good/bad time'. Notice the 'lo' is required. So, to say 'I'm having a great time,' you say 'Lo estoy pasando genial'.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: pasando

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence correctly says 'We are having a great time'?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

pasar(to pass, to happen) - verb

paso(step) - noun

pasado(past) - noun, adjective

pasaje(passage, ticket) - noun

pasajero(passenger) - noun

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between '¿Qué pasa?' and '¿Qué está pasando?'

They are similar, but with a slight difference. '¿Qué pasa?' is a general 'What's up?' or 'What's the matter?'. '¿Qué está pasando?' focuses on what is happening *right now* and often shows more surprise or concern about an ongoing event.

Can I use 'pasando' by itself without 'estar'?

Yes, sometimes. You might see it in short answers or to describe two actions happening at once. For example, 'Caminaba por la calle, pasando por tiendas' (I was walking down the street, passing by shops). However, for beginners, it's best to stick to using it with 'estar' to mean an action is in progress.