Level A2 (Upper Beginner)
🎧 Audio by Marie Assel Cambier — native speaker & pro voice artist from France
The French Word of the Day is passer. This common verb means “to pass” and is used in many everyday contexts. Today you’ll learn its:
✅ Meaning
✅ Pronunciation
✅ Example sentences
✅ Related Words & Expressions
✅ Related lessons
📘 Passer meaning
Passer is one of the most versatile French verbs. It can mean to pass, go by, or go through, but also to spend time, take an exam, or happen. The exact meaning depends on context: with a direct object (j’ai passé un an à Paris – I spent a year in Paris) it’s transitive, while without one (je suis passé devant l’école – I went by the school) it’s intransitive. (See examples below.)
🎧 Passer pronunciation
Passer is pronounced /pa.se/ and sounds like pah-say, with the final -er making the clear long ay sound in French.
📝 French and English examples
Passer – to pass
When passer means “to spend time,” it uses avoir as the auxiliary verb in the passé composé.
Je passe une semaine à Paris. J’ai passé une semaine à Rome.
I’m spending a week in Paris. I spent a week in Rome.
When passer is used with chez + a place (to go or drop by), it takes être as the auxiliary verb in the passé composé.
Je passe chez mon ami. Je suis passé chez mon ami.
I’m going to my friend’s place. I went to my friend’s place.
Passe-moi le sel, s’il te plaît.
Pass me the salt, please.
Le train passe à midi.
The train is coming at noon.
Un bon film passe à la télé.
A good movie is playing on TV.
Passer sur means to pass over, let go or overlook.
Je passe sur ses défauts.
I overlook their faults.
The expression y passer means “to die.”
Il a eu un accident, il a failli y passer.
He had an accent and almost died.
Le temps passe vite quand on s’amuse.
Time flies when you’re having fun.
The expression passer du temps à + infinitive means “to spend time doing.”
Je passe mon temps à étudier le français.
I spend my time studying French.
In the reflexive form, se passer means “to happen.”
Qu’est-ce qui se passe ?
What’s happening?
📘 Recommended resource
Mastering verbs like passer can be tough. In her À Moi Paris audio course, Camille explains French verbs step by step in real conversations, with clear audio.
👉 See the full course here »
👉 Read my revew »
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🔗 Related words & Expressions
Related verbs & expressions
- passer à table — to sit down to eat
- se passer de — to do without
- faire passer un message — to get a message across
- passer à la télé — to appear on TV
- passer à la radio — to be on the radio
- laisser passer — to let through
- passer à autre chose — to move on to something else
- passer un examen — to take an exam
- passer un coup de fil — to give a call (informal)
- passer la nuit — to spend the night
Related nouns
- un passage — a passage, crossing
- un passant / une passante — a passerby
- un passeport — a passport
- un passe-temps — a hobby, pastime
- un passage piéton — a pedestrian crossing
- un passager / une passagère — a passenger
✏️ Ready to test yourself?
Try this quick quiz and see if you really know how to use passer in real-life situations:
👉 Take the passer quiz here »
📊 Complete verb conjugation table here »
