paso

step

noun PAH-soh Common

Also means

pass

Usage Note

Paso covers a physical step (dar un paso atrás, 'to take a step back'), a mountain pass (el paso de montaña), and an abstract step in a process (el próximo paso). Paso a paso means 'step by step'. Ceder el paso means 'to give way' in traffic; prohibido el paso is 'no entry'. The word is also the root of pasillo (corridor) and pasear (to stroll).

Examples

"Da un paso hacia adelante."

Natural Translation

Take a step forward.

Related Words

Explore Spanish by topic

SpanishNow

Por vs Para in Spanish: One Mental Model, No Acronyms

Por looks backward at cause and path; para looks forward at goal and destination. Master por vs para in Spanish with one mental model — no acronyms needed.

June 3, 2026 6 min read

SpanishNow

How to Respond to ¿Cómo Estás? (Not Just Bien)

Respond to ¿cómo estás? like a native: add gracias, bounce back ¿y tú?, and pick a reply by mood — bien, no me quejo, más o menos, or ahí voy.

June 3, 2026 6 min read

SpanishNow

Tener in Spanish: Why You're Hungry, Cold & 30 Years

In Spanish you HAVE hunger, cold, and 30 years — not are them. Master tener expressions like tengo hambre, tengo frío, and tengo 30 años in one rule.

June 9, 2026 5 min read

SpanishNow

How to Introduce Yourself in Spanish: 12 Real Phrases

Introduce yourself in Spanish with 12 ready-to-speak phrases — name, origin, age, and job — in both tú and usted, with the verb traps that trip up beginners.

June 9, 2026 5 min read