Spanish
Vocab Builder for commonly used words in Spanish.
pasado
The Spanish word 'pasado' is used similarly to the English 'past'. It can be used to denote the time that has elapsed (e.g., 'En el pasado, las cosas eran diferentes' means 'In the past, things were different') or to describe the past tense in grammar. It is also used in some phrases and idiomatic expressions.
Example sentences with pasado →pasajero
The Spanish word 'pasajero' translates to 'passenger' in English. It is often used to refer to a person who is traveling in a vehicle, such as a car, bus, train, plane, or ship, but is not operating it or part of the crew. The term 'pasajero' can be used in various contexts, including transportation, travel, and tourism. It is an important term to know when traveling in Spanish-speaking regions.
Example sentences with pasajero →pasaporte
'Pasaporte', the Spanish term for 'passport'. It is a government-issued document that verifies one's identity and nationality.
Example sentences with pasaporte →pasar
The Spanish word 'pasar' means to 'pass' in English. It can be used in a wide range of contexts. For instance, 'pasar' could mean to physically move something or someone from one place to another, to surpass or exceed something or someone, to an action happening or proceeding, to undergo or suffer something, or to spend time, among other uses. It's widely used in daily conversation.
Example sentences with pasar →pasar de curso
'Pasar de curso' in Spanish generally implies progressing to the next level in an educational or training context. Literally translated as 'pass of course'; however, a more accurate interpretation would be 'to pass the course' or 'advance to the next grade'. This phrase is commonly used in schools, colleges, and universities, as well as in other educational institutions.
pasar el aspirador
The Spanish phrase 'pasar el aspirador' refers to the action of using a vacuum cleaner on a surface. This can be translated to 'pass the vacuum' in English. Typically, the phrase is used in household contexts and indicates the cleaning of floors or carpets using a vacuum cleaner. It literally suggests the movement of the vacuum cleaning machine across a certain space to remove dirt, just like one would pass a comb through hair to remove tangles. The phrase may also metaphorically indicate a thorough and meticulous examination or search, like a vacuum cleaner suctioning up all that it comes into contact with.
pasar el rato
The Spanish term 'pasar el rato' translates to 'hang out' in English. It is used to refer to spending time leisurely with other people, often friends, engaging in social activities or simply passing the time together.
pasar el trapo
The Spanish term 'pasar el trapo' translates to 'wipe down' in English. This phrase is commonly used in the context of cleaning, specifying an action where one uses a cloth, or 'trapo' in Spanish, to clean or dust off a surface. For instance, you may 'pasar el trapo' to the kitchen counter or the dining table, which implies wiping down these surfaces with a cloth. Hence, it can also be used as an instruction or request in a household or workplace setting asking someone to clean a certain area or object.
pasar el verano
'Pasar el verano' is a phrase in Spanish which means 'spend the summer' in English. It is often used to indicate what one does or where one goes during the vacation period of summer. For example, 'Voy a pasar el verano en la playa' translates to 'I'm going to spend the summer at the beach'. You might also use it in a more general sense to mean you are spending the summer doing a particular activity or activities. Like many Spanish expressions, it can be used in a variety of contexts.
Example sentences with pasar el verano →pasar la aduana
The Spanish phrase 'pasar la aduana' translates to 'pass the customs' in English. It refers to the procedure of going through the customs department at a border or an airport, which checks incoming goods, travelers, or luggage. This process usually involves declaring what goods you are bringing into the country and possibly paying import taxes or tariffs according to the laws and regulations of the country.
Example sentences with pasar la aduana →pasar lista
'Pasar lista' in Spanish doesn't translate directly to 'go ahead' in English. Its literal meaning is 'to take attendance' or 'to call the roll,' most commonly used in an academic setting where a teacher takes the attendance of the students by calling their names. However, the interpretation may vary depending on context.
pasar por (la) caja
The Spanish phrase 'pasar por (la) caja' translates to 'proceed to checkout' in English. This is commonly used in retail settings, like supermarkets or clothing stores, where after selecting the desired items, you are instructed to 'pasar por la caja', which signals that it's time to go to the cashier or checkout counter to pay for your purchases.
Example sentences with pasar por (la) caja →pasar un calor espantoso
The phrase 'pasar un calor espantoso' is a Spanish expression that, when directly translated to English, means 'to spend a terrible heat'. However, in context, it's used to express the experience of extremely hot and uncomfortable weather conditions. An English equivalent might be 'to suffer in the sweltering heat'. The phrase is often used when someone is experiencing, or has experienced, particularly hot weather that is uncomfortable or unbearable.
pasar un control de aduana
The Spanish phrase 'pasar un control de aduana' translates to 'pass a customs control' in English. It's generally used in the context of crossing borders where goods are inspected for legality and/or applicable duties. The phrase implies the successful completion of this process, allowing one to continue travel or transport of goods.
Example sentences with pasar un control de aduana →pasar un control de carreteras
The Spanish phrase 'pasar un control de carreteras' translates to 'passing a roadblock' in English. In Spanish, 'pasar' means to pass, 'un' means a, 'control de carreteras' means roadblock. Therefore, the combination 'pasar un control de carreteras' is used to express the action of successfully getting through a checkpoint or inspection on the roads. In a broader context, it may be used metaphorically to describe overcoming an obstacle or a challenging situation.
Example sentences with pasar un control de carreteras →pasar un examen
The Spanish term 'pasar un examen' is commonly used in educational context. It refers to the act of successfully achieving the required marks or standards in an examination. In English, this phrase is equivalent to 'pass a test'. This can be used to express one's success in a school test, a certification exam, a driving test etc. Learning this term could be beneficial for students who are studying in a Spanish speaking environment or interacting with native Spanish speakers.
pasar un frío espantoso
The Spanish phrase 'pasar un frío espantoso' can be translated to English as 'to have a terrible cold'. It is often used in a context where someone is experiencing extremely cold weather and they are feeling very cold and possibly uncomfortable. This phrase represents an expression and just like many other expressions, it should not be translated word for word, but rather understanding the overall meaning of the phrase is more important.
pasar un frío horrible
The phrase 'pasar un frío horrible' in Spanish translates to 'to spend a horrible cold' in English. This phrase is often used in situations where someone has experienced, or is currently undergoing, severely cold weather conditions. It can be used to express physical discomfort due to the cold, or to emphasize the extreme cold of a particular situation or place. It's important to note that this phrase carries a negative, informal, and somewhat hyperbolic connotation.
pasar una enfermedad
The Spanish phrase 'pasar una enfermedad' translates to 'suffer an illness' in English. This phrase is composed of three words: 'pasar' (to pass through or suffer), 'una' (an or a), and 'enfermedad' (illness or disease). When combined, they indicate the experience of undergoing or enduring a disease or health condition. It's commonly used in conversations or writings discussing health issues and personal experiences with illness.
Example sentences with pasar una enfermedad →pasar(se)lo bien
'Pasar(se)lo bien' in Spanish translates to 'have a good time' in English. It is a common phrase used to express the act of enjoying oneself or making the most out of a situation. It can be used in many contexts like during social gatherings, outings, vacations, etc. It doesn't literally translate to 'spend it well' but provides more of the feeling that you should enjoy or get most out of the experience or time at hand.
pasar(se)lo en grande
'Pasar(se)lo en grande' is a Spanish phrase which does not translate directly to 'pass(se) large' in English. It is actually an idiomatic expression that equates to 'have a great time' or 'have a blast' in English. It is used when someone is enjoying themselves tremendously or having a lot of fun. The use of reflexive form 'pasárselo en grande' is more common in Spain, whereas in Latin America, it is more typical to hear 'pasarlo en grande'.
pasar(se)lo fenomenal
'Pasar(se)lo fenomenal' is an idiomatic expression in Spanish that doesn't directly translate to 'pass(se) the phenomenal' in English. Generally, it's used to express the idea of having a great time or doing something exceptionally well. The closest English equivalents could be 'having a blast' or 'having a fantastic time'. The '(se)' is optional and is used to add emphasis on the personal enjoyment of the person doing the action.
pasarela
The Spanish word 'pasarela' translates to 'runway' in English. This can refer to the long, narrow ramp that models walk on during a fashion show, or the similar structure used for the landing and takeoff of aircraft. It may also refer to a walkway or path that serves as a passage between different places, such as a bridge over a road or river. The word 'pasarela' illustrates the concept of a path or platform designed for movement or presentation.
pasarse el arroz
'Pasarse el arroz' is a colloquial phrase in Spanish, not literally related to 'spend the rice'. Instead it is a metaphor about the optimal moment to cook rice, after which it may not be good anymore. Often used to jokingly refer to a person, especially a woman, who has passed the 'ideal' age to get married or have children.
pasatiempo
The Spanish word 'pasatiempo' translates to 'pastime' in English. A 'pasatiempo' signifies a hobby or the activity that one engages in their leisure time for enjoyment. It refers to the activities that people do to relax and have fun when they have free time, aside from their main work responsibilities.
pasear por la orilla
The term 'pasear por la orilla' in Spanish translates to 'stroll along the shore' in English. This phrase is commonly used in contexts involving walks along a beach or river, portraying a calm and peaceful activity. It is a combined form of the verb 'pasear', which means to walk, 'por la', which means along the, and 'orilla', that represents the shore.
Example sentences with pasear por la orilla →paseo marítimo
The Spanish term 'paseo marítimo' translates to 'promenade' in English. A promenade refers to a public place for walking, often in a place that is made attractive by a scenic view. It is usually found in coastal areas where people can walk along the seafront for leisure or pleasure, often paved and lined with shops, restaurants, and other amenities. Therefore, 'paseo marítimo' can be understood as a leisurely walk or a relaxing stroll along the seafront.
Example sentences with paseo marítimo →pasillo
The word 'pasillo' in Spanish translates to 'corridor' in English. It is a noun that denotes a long, narrow passage in a building, typically with rooms that open into it. Corridors or 'pasillos' are common in buildings such as schools, hospitals, hotels, and offices. They can be inside a building, leading between different rooms, or outside providing a covered pathway.
paso
In Spanish, 'paso' translates to 'step' in English. In most contexts, it's used to refer to a single movement of one foot in walking or running. It's equally used to refer to a way, path, or course of action. For example, 'El primer paso es siempre el más duro', which means 'The first step is always the hardest'.
Example sentences with paso →paso (de baile)
The Spanish term 'paso (de baile)' directly translates to 'step (of dance)' in English. It is commonly used in the context of dancing, where it denotes a particular sequence or manner of movement in dancing. The term 'paso' on its own means 'step' while the portion in the parenthesis, 'de baile', specifies that this step is related to dance. Hence, 'paso (de baile)' would refer to a dance step, a specific way to move in a dance routine.
Example sentences with paso (de baile) →