traspasar
“traspasar” means “to go through” in Spanish. It has 3 different meanings depending on context:
to go through, to pierce
Also: to soak through
📝 In Action
La luz del sol traspasa las cortinas finas.
A2The sunlight goes through the thin curtains.
El frío me traspasa los huesos.
B1The cold pierces through my bones.
La flecha traspasó la manzana de lado a lado.
B1The arrow pierced the apple from side to side.
to transfer, to hand over
📝 In Action
Decidió traspasar su restaurante para jubilarse.
B2He decided to transfer his restaurant in order to retire.
El dueño va a traspasar el local a un nuevo inquilino.
B2The owner is going to transfer the lease of the premises to a new tenant.
to exceed, to violate
Also: to overstep
📝 In Action
Has traspasado los límites de mi paciencia.
B2You have exceeded the limits of my patience.
Ningún ciudadano debe traspasar la ley.
C1No citizen should violate the law.
Ese comportamiento traspasa lo aceptable.
C1That behavior goes beyond what is acceptable.
🔄 Conjugations
subjunctive
imperfect
present
indicative
preterite
imperfect
present
Translate to Spanish
Words that translate to "traspasar" in Spanish:
to exceed→to overstep→to pierce→to transfer→to violate→✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: traspasar
Question 1 of 3
Which sentence describes light going through glass?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
From the Latin prefix 'trans-' (across/through) and 'passare' (to step or pass). It literally describes the act of stepping through or across something.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Does 'traspasar' always mean something bad?
No. While it can mean 'to violate a law', it also simply means light going through a window or transferring a business to a new owner.
Is 'traspasar' a regular verb?
Yes! It follows the standard pattern for all -ar verbs in all tenses.
Is 'traspasar' the same as 'trespass' in English?
They are related! While English 'trespass' usually means entering property without permission, Spanish 'traspasar' is broader, covering physical piercing and business transfers too.