Vocabulary

Level: A2
Accent: 1 accent
Time: 15 min

Learn Spanish: Pasar por vs. Pasar de for Stopping By and Passing On Things

By MicroSpanish editorial team Published 7 Nov 2026

The short answer

Use pasar por when someone drops by a physical location, stops to see a person, or follows a specific transit path. Use pasar de when someone chooses to skip, decline, or ignore an activity, chore, or situation.

Key points

Choose pasar por when visiting a physical spot along your journey or passing along a route.
Choose pasar de when you decide to pass on an activity, decline an option, or ignore a situation.
Pair pasar por with physical nouns such as shops, desks, streets, or checkpoints to describe brief visits or routes.

Start the lesson

This lesson has 5 stages. You can stop at any time and continue later.

Stage 1 of 5

Understand

What it means, when to use it, and mistakes to avoid.

Examples

Paso por la tienda del barrio cada mañana.

I drop by the neighborhood store every morning.

Why it works: Demonstrates visiting a physical shop regularly on a route.

2 more examples

Nosotros pasamos de jugar bajo la lluvia intensa.

We pass on playing under the heavy rain.

Shows choosing to decline an outdoor activity.
David pasa por la oficina de correos, pero pasa de enviar paquetes pesados hoy.

David drops by the post office, but passes on sending heavy packages today.

Contrasts making a quick stop with declining a demanding task.

Read the full guide

7 short steps, one check each

Stopping by physical locations

Beginners often wonder how to say they will make a quick visit to a shop or office on their way somewhere.

The problem: Beginners often wonder how to say they will make a quick visit to a shop or office on their way somewhere.

Use pasar por when you drop by a specific physical place for a short stop during your day. The preposition por identifies the intermediate location you visit before continuing your journey.

Paso por la panadería a comprar pan.

I stop by the bakery to buy bread.

Why it works: Describes a brief visit to a physical shop on the way.
Ellos pasan por la oficina esta tarde.

They stop by the office this afternoon.

Why it works: Indicates visiting a workplace briefly during the day.

Your turn

Choose the option that describes dropping by a friend's house.

Show the answer

Answer: Paso por tu casa antes de salir.

Use pasar por to indicate dropping by a physical location like a house.

Declining an activity or invitation

Learners need a natural way to say they want to pass on an activity or decline an invitation.

The problem: Learners need a natural way to say they want to pass on an activity or decline an invitation.

Use pasar de followed by an infinitive verb when you choose to skip an activity or decline an invitation. The preposition de marks the action you decide not to join.

Hoy paso de salir al cine.

Today I pass on going out to the movies.

Why it works: Shows a personal decision to skip going to an event.
Ella pasa de cocinar esta noche.

She passes on cooking tonight.

Why it works: Expresses deciding not to do the activity of cooking.

You can practise this again in Learn Spanish: Pasar por vs. Pasar a for Stopping By and Transitioning and Learn Spanish: Preocuparse por vs. Ocuparse de for Worrying and Handling Tasks.

Your turn

Choose the sentence where someone decides to skip running today.

Show the answer

Answer: Paso de correr hoy en el parque.

Pasar de followed by an infinitive expresses passing on or skipping an activity.

Stopping by to pick up someone or an item

Learners often wonder how to say they will drop by to pick up a person or collect an item on their way.

The problem: Learners often wonder how to say they will drop by to pick up a person or collect an item on their way.

Use pasar por directly with a person or an object when you drop by to pick someone up or collect an item on your way. The preposition por connects the action to the person or thing you collect.

Nosotros pasamos por ti a las cinco de la tarde.

We stop by to pick you up at five in the afternoon.

Why it works: Shows using pasar por directly with a person to mean stopping by to pick them up.
Elena pasa por las entradas antes del concierto.

Elena stops by to pick up the tickets before the concert.

Why it works: Uses pasar por with an item to express dropping by to collect it.

Your turn

Which sentence means we will stop by to pick you up at eight to go together?

Show the answer

Answer: Pasamos por ti a las ocho para ir juntos.

Use pasar por with a pronoun to express stopping by to pick someone up.

Passing on arguments or drama

Learners want to express staying out of unnecessary arguments or noisy disputes.

The problem: Learners want to express staying out of unnecessary arguments or noisy disputes.

Use pasar de with a noun when you want to ignore, overlook, or stay out of a conflict or topic. It shows that you deliberately pay no attention to rumors, gossip, or arguments.

Yo paso de discusiones tontas.

I pass on silly arguments.

Why it works: Shows actively choosing to ignore disputes.
Mateo pasa de esos comentarios negativos.

Mateo ignores those negative comments.

Why it works: Indicates choosing to disregard unwanted remarks.

Your turn

Select the sentence that means you prefer to ignore rumors.

Show the answer

Answer: Paso de esos rumores raros.

Pasar de with a noun conveys choosing to disregard or ignore something.

Passing along a street or avenue

Learners mix up whether to use por or de when describing travel routes through streets.

The problem: Learners mix up whether to use por or de when describing travel routes through streets.

Use pasar por to indicate passing through or along a specific street, bridge, or corridor on your journey. Here por marks the physical route you traverse.

El autobús pasa por la avenida principal.

The bus goes through the main avenue.

Why it works: Specifies the physical route taken by the vehicle.
Caminamos y pasamos por el puente viejo.

We walk and pass by the old bridge.

Why it works: Identifies a landmark on the walking path.

Your turn

How do you say that the delivery car passes through this street?

Show the answer

Answer: El coche pasa por esta calle estrecha.

Use pasar por when describing a physical path or transit along a street.

Passing on noun options and things

Learners wonder how to say they pass on a specific offered thing, menu item, or option without using a verb.

The problem: Learners wonder how to say they pass on a specific offered thing, menu item, or option without using a verb.

In conversational Spanish, you can use pasar de directly with a noun to show disinterest or pass on an offered choice, such as a dish or drink at a shared meal.

Cuando le ofrecen bebidas, Manuel pasa del café con leche.

When offered drinks, Manuel passes on coffee with milk.

Why it works: Shows using pasar de with a contracted masculine noun to pass on an offered drink.
Cuando nos ofrecen el menú especial, nosotros pasamos de la comida picante.

When they offer us the special menu, we pass on the spicy food.

Why it works: Shows using pasar de with a feminine noun phrase to pass on an offered food option.

Your turn

When offered something sweet after lunch, which sentence means she passes on the dessert today?

Show the answer

Answer: Ella pasa del postre hoy.

In an offered-choice context, pasar de contracts with el to form del when declining a specific masculine noun.

Contrasting stops and choices in one scene

Learners need to coordinate both expressions when describing a busy afternoon of errands and decisions.

The problem: Learners need to coordinate both expressions when describing a busy afternoon of errands and decisions.

In conversation, contrast dropping by a needed store using pasar por with skipping an unnecessary stop or purchase using pasar de. Combining both gives a full, natural picture of your daily decisions.

Paso por la tienda, pero paso de hacer fila.

I stop by the store, but I pass on waiting in line.

Why it works: Contrasts a physical visit with declining an undesirable action.
Lucía pasa por la farmacia y pasa de comprar dulces.

Lucia drops by the pharmacy and passes on buying candy.

Why it works: Pairs a brief physical errand with skipping an extra purchase.

Your turn

Choose the sentence that correctly pairs stopping by a cafe while skipping the dessert.

Show the answer

Answer: Paso por el café, pero paso de pedir postre.

Pasar por introduces the physical visit, while pasar de indicates skipping the dessert.

Before you go

Remember this

Choose pasar por when visiting a physical spot along your journey or passing along a route. Choose pasar de when you decide to pass on an activity, decline an option, or ignore a situation.

Stage 2 of 5