paso
/PAH-soh/
step
As a noun, paso means 'step' or 'footstep'.
📝 In Action
Con cada paso, me sentía más cerca de la meta.
A2With every step, I felt closer to the goal.
Cuidado con el primer paso, está resbaloso.
A1Be careful with the first step, it's slippery.
Oí sus pasos en el pasillo.
B1I heard his footsteps in the hallway.
⭐ Usage Tips
Literal and Figurative Steps
Just like in English, 'paso' can be a physical step you take with your feet, or a step in a plan or process. The context will tell you which one it is.
Another meaning of the noun paso is 'passage' or 'pass', referring to a way through an obstacle.
📝 In Action
El túnel es el único paso entre las dos ciudades.
B1The tunnel is the only passage between the two cities.
Cerraron el paso de montaña por la nieve.
B2They closed the mountain pass because of the snow.
El guardia nos bloqueó el paso.
B1The guard blocked our way.
⭐ Usage Tips
From 'Step' to 'Way Through'
Think of this meaning as an extension of 'step'. A 'paso' is a place where you can take steps to get from one side to another, like a mountain pass or a border crossing.
Paso is the 'I' form of the verb pasar, meaning 'I pass' or 'I move past'.
paso(Verb)
I pass
?moving past something
I spend
?referring to time
,I go through
?experiencing something
📝 In Action
Yo siempre paso por el parque para ir al trabajo.
A1I always pass through the park to go to work.
Paso mucho tiempo con mis amigos los fines de semana.
A2I spend a lot of time with my friends on the weekends.
Si no entiendes, paso a la siguiente pregunta.
B1If you don't understand, I'll move on (pass) to the next question.
💡 Grammar Points
This is the 'I' form
'Paso' is the present-tense form of the verb 'pasar' (to pass) that you use when you're talking about yourself. For example, 'Yo paso por tu casa' means 'I pass by your house'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Noun vs. Verb
Mistake: "Confusing 'un paso' (a step) with 'yo paso' (I pass)."
Correction: Remember that if it comes after 'un' or 'el', it's the noun 'step'. If it's used as the main action word by itself, it means 'I pass'.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: paso
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'paso' to mean a step in a process?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between 'paso' and 'paseo'?
They look similar but are different! 'Paso' is a single 'step'. 'Paseo' is 'a walk' or 'a stroll', which is made up of many steps. Think: a 'paseo' is a longer journey than a 'paso'.
How can I tell if 'paso' means 'step' or 'I pass'?
Look for clues in the sentence. If you see words like 'un', 'el', 'primer', or 'cada' before it, it's almost always the noun 'step' (e.g., 'un paso'). If it's the main action word and there's no other subject, it's likely the verb 'I pass' (e.g., 'Paso por aquí todos los días').