pasé
/pah-SAY/
I passed
Pasé means 'I passed' when referring to movement or going by something.
pasé(Verb)
I passed
?movement, going by
,I went (by/through)
?movement, transitioning
I crossed
?crossing a boundary, e.g., 'pasé la calle'
📝 In Action
Pasé por la oficina de correos antes de venir aquí.
A1I passed by the post office before coming here.
Anoche pasé esa película en la televisión, pero no la vi.
A2Last night, I noticed that movie on TV, but I didn't watch it. (Lit: I passed that movie on TV)
Cuando era niño, pasé de una ciudad a otra cada año.
B1When I was a kid, I moved from one city to another every year.
💡 Grammar Points
Past Action: The Preterite
'Pasé' uses the Spanish simple past tense (the preterite), which means the action (passing) was completed and finished at a specific point in the past.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using 'Pasé' vs. 'Estaba pasando'
Mistake: "Using 'Pasé' when talking about an ongoing past action: 'Cuando pasé la calle, vi un accidente.'"
Correction: Use the imperfect tense for background actions: 'Cuando *estaba pasando* la calle (While I was crossing the street), vi un accidente.' 'Pasé' implies a swift completion.
⭐ Usage Tips
Using 'Por'
When talking about going by or through a place, you almost always need the preposition 'por': 'Pasé por la tienda' (I passed by the store).
When referring to time duration, pasé translates to 'I spent,' as in spending time on an activity.
📝 In Action
Pasé tres horas esperando el autobús.
A2I spent three hours waiting for the bus.
Pasé unas vacaciones fantásticas en la playa.
B1I spent/had a fantastic vacation at the beach.
¿Cómo pasé el fin de semana? Muy bien, gracias.
A2How did I spend the weekend? Very well, thank you.
💡 Grammar Points
Time Expression Placement
When talking about time, 'pasé' works just like 'spent' in English: 'Pasé [time duration] [activity]'. The activity is usually expressed using the 'gerund' (-ando/-iendo form).
⭐ Usage Tips
Don't Confuse with Dinero
While 'pasé' means 'I spent time,' use 'gasté' (I spent) when referring to money. 'Pasé' is only for time.
Pasé means 'I passed' when talking about successfully completing a test, exam, or stage.
📝 In Action
Estudié mucho, ¡y por fin pasé el examen de química!
B1I studied a lot, and finally I passed the chemistry exam!
Pasé a la siguiente ronda del concurso de talentos.
B2I advanced (passed) to the next round of the talent competition.
💡 Grammar Points
Passing the Test
Unlike the other meanings of 'pasar,' when referring to success on an exam, you use 'pasar' directly with the object, like 'pasé el examen'.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: pasé
Question 1 of 2
Which English sentence correctly translates the meaning of 'Pasé por la panadería'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does 'pasé' have so many different meanings?
All the meanings are related to the core idea of 'transition.' You can transition geographically ('I passed by the store'), transition through time ('I spent three hours'), or transition successfully through a hurdle ('I passed the exam').
If I want to say 'I passed out' (fainted), is 'pasé' the correct verb?
No, for fainting, you must use 'Me desmayé.' 'Pasé' is only for movement, time, or completing a test. Do not confuse them!