pasara
“pasara” means “were to happen” in Spanish. It has 3 different meanings depending on context:
were to happen, happened
Also: might happen, would happen
📝 In Action
Si pasara algo urgente, te llamaría de inmediato.
B1If something urgent were to happen, I would call you immediately.
No creían que eso pasara nunca en su ciudad.
B2They didn't believe that that would ever happen in their city.
were to pass (by), crossed
Also: went through
📝 In Action
Esperaba que el tren pasara antes de cruzar la vía.
A2She hoped that the train would pass before crossing the track.
Era necesario que él pasara por la aduana.
B1It was necessary that he pass through customs.
were to spend (time)
Also: used (time)
📝 In Action
Ojalá que pasara unas vacaciones inolvidables.
B1If only he would spend an unforgettable vacation (I wish he had spent...).
Era importante que pasaran tiempo juntos.
B2It was important that they spend time together.
Indicative
Present
Imperfect
Preterite
Subjunctive
Present Subjunctive
Imperfect Subjunctive
Translate to Spanish
Words that translate to "pasara" in Spanish:
crossed→happened→might happen→went through→will happen→will occur→would happen→✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: pasara
Question 1 of 2
Which English phrase best captures the meaning of 'Si yo pasara el examen, celebraría'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
From the Vulgar Latin *passāre*, which means 'to step' or 'to walk.' It is closely related to the word for 'foot' (*passus*). The core meaning has always been about movement from one place to another, which is why it evolved to mean 'to happen' (transitioning from future to present) and 'to spend time' (transitioning through time).
First recorded: 10th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why does 'pasara' sound like a past tense, but often refers to the present or future?
'Pasara' is the Imperfect Subjunctive, which is often used in Spanish grammar to express a hypothetical or uncertain situation, regardless of when it actually happens. When used in conditional sentences (starting with 'si'), it refers to a situation that is unlikely to be true right now or in the future.
Which people can the form 'pasara' refer to?
The form 'pasara' can refer to: 'yo' (I), 'él/ella' (he/she/it), 'usted' (you formal), and 'ellos/ellas/ustedes' (they/you plural) in the Imperfect Subjunctive tense. You must look at the subject of the sentence to know who is performing the action.