A Pass In Spanish | Meanings That Fit The Moment

“Pass” usually translates as pase or pasar, yet the right choice shifts with the situation: ticket, sports play, exam result, or letting someone go by.

“Pass” changes meaning every time you move it. You can pass a ball, pass an exam, pass time, pass on a message, get a pass for the train, or say “pass” to skip your turn. Spanish can say all of that, yet it rarely uses one single word for every case.

This article gives you the translations that sound normal to Spanish speakers, plus a simple way to pick the right one when you’re writing, speaking, or translating.

Meaning Of Pass In Spanish With Real Context

Start with one decision: are you dealing with a verb (an action) or a noun (a thing)? English blurs that line. Spanish tends to separate it cleanly.

When “Pass” Is A Verb

Most verb uses land on pasar. The Royal Spanish Academy lists senses that range from “to cross” to “to transfer” to “to happen.” RAE’s entry for “pasar” shows how wide it runs.

• To go by / to elapse:El tiempo pasa. (Time passes.)
• To move past a point:Pasa la esquina y gira a la derecha. (Go past the corner and turn right.)
• To hand something over:¿Me pasas la sal? (Can you pass me the salt?)
• To transfer a message:Te paso el recado. (I’ll pass the message to you.)

In speech, you’ll also hear pasar por (“to go through / to stop by”) and pasarse (“to go too far,” “to exceed,” “to overdo it”). Those are the same verb, with common patterns.

When “Pass” Is A Noun

Many noun uses become pase. The RAE defines pase as “acción y efecto de pasar,” and it also lists senses tied to permission or authorization. RAE’s entry for “pase” is a solid starting point for the noun side.

• A sports pass:un pase
• A pass for access:un pase, una autorización
• A ticket: often una entrada (events), sometimes un billete or un boleto (transport)

Spanish likes precision. A boarding pass is often tarjeta de embarque in Spain, while pase de abordar is common in parts of Latin America. Both can be correct, so match your audience.

A Pass In Spanish In Everyday Situations

Below are the most common “pass” situations, with Spanish that fits the moment. Copy the pattern that matches what you mean.

Sports And Games

For “pass the ball,” Spanish uses pasar as a verb and pase as a noun.

• Verb:Pásame la pelota. (Pass me the ball.)
• Noun:Buen pase. (Good pass.)
• To make a pass:Dar un pase is common in match talk.

When you want a fast sense-check that includes sports uses, WordReference lists “pass (sport: ball transfer)” as pase and gives example sentences. WordReference’s “pass” entry is handy for this.

Tests, Qualifications, And “Passing” A Class

English uses “pass” for “get a passing grade.” Spanish most often says aprobar for that idea. You may hear pasar in casual talk, yet aprobar is the safer default for exams and subjects.

• I passed the exam:Aprobé el examen.
• I didn’t pass math:No aprobé matemáticas.
• Pass / fail labels:aprobado / suspenso (Spain), aprobado / reprobado (common in Latin America)

Tickets, Memberships, And Access

“A pass” as something that gets you in can be pase, yet Spanish often prefers a more specific noun.

• Day pass (gym, spa):pase de día
• Season pass:abono de temporada for sports and transit in many places
• Ticket (event):entrada
• Ticket (transport):billete (Spain), boleto (many Latin American countries)

If the pass is a plastic card, Spanish often calls it tarjeta. If it’s a monthly product, abono is common. If it’s a badge, acreditación fits.

Travel Passes And Digital Wallet Passes

Travel wording can shift by country and by the screen you’re looking at. In Spain, airline staff often say tarjeta de embarque for “boarding pass.” In parts of Latin America, you’ll hear pase de abordar. Both show up on apps, kiosks, and airport signs, so either can work if your sentence makes the setting clear.

For trains and buses, “pass” products are often sold as abonos (a monthly or multi-trip product) or a tarjeta (the card that holds the product). If you’re translating a transit page, match the label used by that operator, since riders search by that word.

Digital wallet wording also varies. Some apps call it a pase (as in a digital pass), others label it as tarjeta. If your reader is using Apple Wallet or Google Wallet in Spanish, a neutral phrase like tu pase digital can work when you mean “the scannable pass on your phone.”

Letting Someone Go By

“Let me pass” is about physical space. Spanish usually uses dejar pasar or a polite one-word request.

• Excuse me, can I get through?Perdón, ¿me dejas pasar?
• Let him pass:Déjalo pasar.
• Excuse me:Permiso.

Saying “Pass” To Skip Your Turn

In games or group choices, “pass” often means “I’m skipping.” Spanish uses paso as a short reply, or a verb phrase.

• Pass.Paso.
• I’ll pass this time.Esta vez paso.
• I’m skipping it.Me lo salto.

Picking The Right Translation In One Minute

This three-step filter keeps you from forcing one English word into one Spanish word.

Step 1: Decide Verb Or Noun

• Action: start with pasar, then ask if you actually mean aprobar (tests), ocurrir (events), or entregar (handing over in formal writing).
• Thing: start with pase, then ask if you mean entrada (event ticket), abono (season/monthly product), or tarjeta (card).

Step 2: Name The Category

Ask what “pass” is doing in your sentence: movement, permission, sports action, test result, time going by, or skipping. Once you name it, Spanish falls into place.

Step 3: Use A Set Phrase

Spanish leans on fixed phrases. They sound smooth, and they keep your meaning tight.

• Pass time:pasar el tiempo / matar el tiempo
• Pass by (a place):pasar por
• Pass on (a message):pasar + object; transmitir in formal contexts
• Pass away:fallecer (neutral), morir (direct)

Cambridge lists common meanings and patterns for pasar with examples that match everyday usage. Cambridge’s “pasar” page is a practical reference when you want quick confirmation.

Common Meanings Of “Pass” And The Spanish You’ll Hear

The table below compresses the most frequent senses into one view. Use it when you’re translating fast and you want a clean first draft.

English Sense Of “Pass”	Spanish Choice	How It’s Used
Hand something to someone	pasar	¿Me pasas…? for objects like salt, papers, files
Go beyond / move past	pasar	Pasar la calle, pasar de largo
Go through a place	pasar por	Paso por tu casa when you go past or stop by briefly
Let someone go by	dejar pasar	¿Me dejas pasar? for crowds, doors, lines
Sports: the act of passing	pase / dar un pase	Buen pase, dar un pase in play descriptions
Event ticket	entrada	Entrada general, entrada VIP
Transit pass	abono / tarjeta	Abono mensual, tarjeta recargable
Pass an exam	aprobar	Aprobar is standard for exams and subjects
Time goes by	pasar	Los años pasan, ¿Cómo pasa el tiempo?

Nuances That Trip People Up

Some translations are correct on paper, yet they land differently in real speech. These are the spots where learners stumble.

“Pass” Versus “Approve” With Laws

In English news, you’ll see “Parliament passed a law.” Spanish usually chooses aprobar: El parlamento aprobó una ley. Using pasar in that sense can sound like an English copy. If you’re writing for Spanish readers, pick aprobar for laws, votes, and formal measures.

“Pass” As A Physical Checkpoint

A mountain pass is puerto or paso de montaña. A security checkpoint is control. In airports, “passport control” is control de pasaportes. Those uses are far from pase, so don’t translate them as an access pass.

“Pass” As A One-Time Freebie

English can say “He got a pass” meaning “he wasn’t punished.” Spanish often uses se lo perdonaron (they let it slide). If you translate it as le dieron un pase, it can sound like an entry credential unless the context is spelled out.

Phrases With “Pass” That Translate As Whole Units

Some English phrases with “pass” work as fixed chunks. Translating word by word can miss the tone. Use these as ready-made patterns.

English Phrase	Natural Spanish	When To Use It
Pass the time	pasar el tiempo / matar el tiempo	Waiting, filling a slow stretch
Pass by (a place)	pasar por	Going past or stopping by briefly
Pass on (a message)	pasar / transmitir	Sharing a message, news, or instructions
Pass out	desmayarse	Fainting
Pass away	fallecer	Neutral wording about death
Pass up (a chance)	dejar pasar	Declining or missing a chance
Pass over (a detail)	pasar por alto	Skipping or overlooking something

Small Grammar Notes That Make Your Spanish Sound Natural

You don’t need heavy grammar to translate “pass,” yet two points help: pronouns and commands.

Object Pronouns With “Pasar”

When “pass” means “hand over,” Spanish often uses an indirect object pronoun.

• ¿Me pasas el agua? (You pass me the water.)
• Pásaselo. (Pass it to him/her.)

That second line stacks pronouns (se + lo). If that feels awkward, rephrase: Pásalo a Ana.

Command Forms You’ll Actually Use

• Informal (tú):Pasa, pásame, pásalo
• Formal (usted):Pase, páseme, páselo
• Plural (ustedes):Pasen, pásenme