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paso
step
Reviewed by: David WestfallCofounder
A step taken with the foot
Encoding Strategies:
linguistic
visual
pass
to go by or go through
+
-o
noun suffix
Paso means step and is related to the English words pass0 and pace. A step is one pass of your foot forward, one pace.
paso
step, footstep
A single pass of your foot while walking, one step.
El niño dio sus primeros pasos ayerThe child took his first steps yesterday
Oí pasos en la escalera y me asustéI heard footsteps on the stairs and got scared
step, pace (distance)
Measures how many paces something is from something else.
La tienda está a diez pasos de mi casaThe store is ten steps from my house
El río queda a unos cien pasos del campamentoThe river is about a hundred paces from the camp
pace, rate (speed)
How fast someone or something is moving, like the pace someone is running at.
Caminaba a un paso muy lentoHe was walking at a very slow pace
El proyecto avanza a buen pasoThe project is moving along at a good rate
way, entry (access)
The ability to pass through somewhere, or the passage itself.
Una roca enorme bloqueaba el pasoAn enormous rock was blocking the way
El cartel decía: prohibido el pasoThe sign said: no entry
pass, crossing (place)
The place where you pass from one side to the other, like a mountain pass.
El paso de montaña se cierra en inviernoThe mountain pass closes in winter
Cruza siempre por el paso de peatonesAlways cross at the pedestrian crossing
passing, passage (of time)
Refers to the passage of time.
Con el paso de los años, aprendí a tener pacienciaWith the passing of the years, I learned to be patient
El paso del tiempo no borró el recuerdoThe passage of time did not erase the memory
step, move (in a process)
A single step in a process or sequence.
El primer paso es reunir todos los documentosThe first step is to gather all the documents
Vender la casa fue un paso arriesgadoSelling the house was a risky move
step, move (dance)
A dance step, a single pass of your feet in time with the music.
No me sé los pasos de este baileI don't know the steps of this dance
Mi hermana me enseñó unos pasos de salsaMy sister taught me some salsa moves
dar un paso
to take a step, to make a move
Used both for moving your foot forward and for making progress on something. Spanish gives a step where English takes one.
Dio un paso hacia la puerta y se detuvoHe took a step toward the door and stopped
Dimos un paso importante al firmar el acuerdoWe made an important move when we signed the agreement
abrir paso
to make way, to clear the way
Used for clearing a route so that someone or something can get through. You are literally opening a passage for them.
La gente abrió paso a la ambulanciaPeople made way for the ambulance
Los bomberos abrieron paso entre los escombrosThe firefighters cleared the way through the rubble
abrirse paso
to make one's way, to push through
Used for forcing your way through a crowd or an obstacle. You are opening a passage for yourself.
Se abrió paso entre la multitud hasta llegar al frenteShe made her way through the crowd to the front
Tuve que abrirme paso a empujones para salirI had to push through to get out
de paso
passing through, just visiting (temporarily)
Used to say you are somewhere only briefly on your way somewhere else. You are still in the middle of passing rather than staying.
Estoy de paso en Bogotá, me voy el viernesI'm just passing through Bogotá, I leave Friday
No vivo aquí, estoy de pasoI don't live here, I'm just visiting
while I'm at it, on the way (while at it)
Used for something extra you do because you are already passing by anyway.
Voy al banco y de paso compro el panI'm going to the bank and I'll buy the bread while I'm at it
Pasé por la farmacia y de paso recogí el paqueteI stopped by the pharmacy and picked up the package on the way
a este paso
at this rate
Used to point out where things are headed if nothing changes. Literally "at this pace," the speed the steps are currently coming.
A este paso no vamos a terminar nuncaAt this rate we're never going to finish
A este paso llegaremos después de la cenaAt this rate we'll arrive after dinner
paso a paso
step by step, little by little
Used for doing something gradually, one stage at a time. Spanish goes step "to" step where English goes step "by" step, moving from one pace to the next.
Te explico la receta paso a pasoI'll explain the recipe to you step by step
Paso a paso fue recuperando la fuerzaLittle by little he was recovering his strength