How to Say "come in!" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “come in!” is “adelante” — use 'adelante' as a direct invitation to enter, typically when someone is already at the door and asking permission.
adelante
a-deh-LAN-teha.ðeˈlan.t̪e
Examples
— ¿Puedo entrar? — ¡Sí, claro, adelante!
— May I come in? — Yes, of course, come in!
— ¿Empiezo a leer? — Sí, adelante.
— Should I start reading? — Yes, go ahead.
El presentador dijo: '¡Adelante con el siguiente concursante!'
The host said: 'Let's bring on the next contestant!'
pasa
PAH-sahˈpa.sa
Examples
¡Hola! Qué bueno verte. Pasa, por favor.
Hello! Great to see you. Come in, please.
¿Qué pasa?
What's happening?
El autobús pasa a las diez.
The bus passes at ten.
Pasa la sal, por favor.
Pass the salt, please.
Two Forms in One
'Pasa' can be a statement about someone else ('él pasa' - he passes) or a command you give to a friend ('tú pasa' - pass!). The context and tone of voice make the meaning clear.
The Super-Verb 'Pasar'
'Pasa' comes from 'pasar,' a verb you'll see everywhere. It can mean 'to pass,' 'to happen,' 'to spend time,' or 'to enter,' depending on the situation.
Asking 'What's up?'
Mistake: “¿Qué es pasa?”
Correction: ¿Qué pasa? The verb 'ser' (is) isn't needed here. Spanish just asks 'What happens?' directly.
Adelante vs. Pasa
Related Translations
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