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"Pasar" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "to pass", and "coger" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "to take". Learn more about the difference between "pasar" and "coger" below.
pasar(
pah
-
sahr
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
2. (to occur)
4. (to reach)
a. to meet
Los materiales no pasan los criterios rigurosos internos.The materials don't meet the strict internal standards.
5. (to suffer)
a. to go through
La familia pasó muchas dificultades durante la posguerra.The family went through a lot of hard times in the period after the war.
a. to spend
¿Qué hiciste durante las vacaciones? - Pasé el mes entero en casa de mis abuelos.What did you do during the vacation? - I spent the whole month at my grandparents'.
Cuando tenemos exámenes, pasamos mucho tiempo estudiando.When we have exams, we spend a lot of time studying.
7. (education)
a. to pass
Si paso este examen, habré acabado la carrera.If I pass this exam, I'll have finished my degree.
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
8. (to proceed)
9. (to elapse)
10. (to pass along)
a. to go by
Ayer pasé por la casa de Alicia, pero las luces estaban apagadas. - Se fue de vacaciones.Last night I went by Alicia's house, but the lights were off. - She went away on vacation.
11. (to travel past)
pasarse
A reciprocal verb is a verb that indicates that two or more subjects perform an action on each other (e.g., Ellos se abrazan.).
13. (to transmit)
a. to pass
Los amigos se pasaron las respuestas durante el examen.The friends passed each other the answers during the test.
A pronominal verb always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g., Te ves cansado.).
14. (to change)
a. to go over (to a different side)
Se pasó al bando del oponente.He went over to the opponent's side.
b. to come over (to your side)
Tenemos que convencerlos a que se pasen a nuestro lado.We have to convince them to come over to our side.
b. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
No llamé a Mamá. Se me pasó por completo.I haven't called Mom; it completely slipped my mind.
¿Por qué no compraste pan? - Tenía prisa y se me pasó.Why didn't you buy some bread? - I was in a hurry and it slipped my mind.
a. to miss
Se me pasó la fecha límite para entregar la solicitud.I missed the deadline for sending in my application.
b. to go off (United Kingdom)
Regionalism used in the United Kingdom
Esta mantequilla ya está para tirar. Se ha pasado.This butter can be thrown away. It's gone off.
c. to go soft (cookies or fruit)
Aunque las guardaba en una lata, las galletas se pasaron.Even though I kept them in a tin, the cookies went soft.
d. to go stale (bread, cake, cookies)
Hay que comer el pastel antes de que se pase.We must eat the cake before it goes stale.
19. (to wilt)
a. to fade
¿Puedes cortar más flores? Estas se han pasado.Can you cut some more flowers? These ones have faded.
20. (culinary)
a. to be overdone
Retira la pasta del fuego o se pasará.Take the pasta off the heat or it will be overdone.
21. (to occupy)
a. to spend
Alejandro se pasa todo el tiempo en la cama mirando la televisión.Alejandro spends all his time in bed watching television.
22. (colloquial) (to go to extremes)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
a. to go too far
¡Deja de burlarte de Amalia! A veces te pasas.Stop teasing Amalia! You go too far sometimes.
b. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
¡No te pases con el azúcar!Don't put too much sugar in it!
Lo siento, me pasé con la pimienta.I'm sorry. I overdid it with the pepper.
a. to be far too
Elena se pasa de amable; siempre quiere ayudar a la gente.Elena's far too kind; she always wants to help people.
25. (to disappear)
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
No te preocupes por mí. Ya se me pasó el mareo.Don't worry about me. I'm no longer feeling seasick.
No necesito una aspirina. Ya se me pasó el dolor de cabeza.I don't need an aspirin. My headache is gone.
coger(
koh
-
hehr
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
b. to grab
Cogió la pelota que salió fuera de la cancha.He grabbed the ball that went off the field.
c. to get
¿Puedes coger el teléfono que está sonando en la sala?Can you get the telephone that is ringing in the living room?
d. to pick up
Por favor, coge al niño, el suelo está sucio.Please, pick up the baby, the floor is dirty.
2. (to select)
a. to pick
De todos los trozos, cogió el más grande.From all the pieces, she picked the biggest one.
a. to catch
Vas a coger un resfriado si no te abrigas bien.You'll catch a cold if you don't wrap up well.
a. to get into
Cogieron la costumbre de venir a visitarnos todos los días.They got into the habit of visiting us every day.
9. (to gather)
a. to pick
¿Dónde cogiste esas flores silvestres tan bonitas? - Son del jardín.Where did you pick such lovely wildflowers? - They're from the garden.
10. (vulgar) (to have sex) (Latin America)
A word or phrase that is crude, indecent, and generally rejected by society.
Regionalism used in Latin America: all the countries in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Does not include Spain.
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
11. (to be located)
12. (vulgar) (to have sex) (Latin America)
A word or phrase that is crude, indecent, and generally rejected by society.
Regionalism used in Latin America: all the countries in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Does not include Spain.
a. to take
Coge por la calle Rojas. Hay menos semáforos.Take Rojas Street. There are fewer stoplights.
cogerse
A pronominal verb always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g., Te ves cansado.).
14. (to grab)
15. (to hold)
a. to hold on to
Cógete fuerte de la cuerda en el descenso. Hold on to the rope tightly during your descent.
A reflexive verb is a verb that indicates that the subject performs an action on itself (e.g., Miguel se lava.).
16. (to get stuck)
