في 15 ثانية
- Used to describe any activity occupying your time.
- Equivalent to 'spending time' but never used for money.
- Works in both professional and casual social settings.
المعنى
This phrase is the bread and butter of daily life in Portuguese. It simply means to occupy your time with an activity, whether you are having fun or just trying to make the clock move faster.
أمثلة رئيسية
3 من 6Talking about hobbies
Eu gosto de passar tempo no jardim.
I like to spend time in the garden.
A romantic moment
Adoro passar tempo com você.
I love spending time with you.
In a job interview
Costumo passar tempo estudando novas tecnologias.
I usually spend time studying new technologies.
خلفية ثقافية
In many Portuguese-speaking countries, especially Brazil and Portugal, 'passing time' together is a social ritual. It highlights a cultural preference for 'relational time' over 'linear time,' where the quality of the company matters more than the schedule. It's the linguistic heart of the famous 'cafezinho' culture.
The Money Trap
Never use 'passar' for money. If you say 'passei 50 reais', people will think you physically handed a bill to someone, not that you spent it.
The 'O' Factor
Adding 'o' (passar o tempo) often implies you are bored and just killing time until something better happens.
في 15 ثانية
- Used to describe any activity occupying your time.
- Equivalent to 'spending time' but never used for money.
- Works in both professional and casual social settings.
What It Means
Passar tempo is your go-to phrase for describing how you use your hours and minutes. It is incredibly versatile. It covers everything from a deep hobby to just scrolling on your phone. Think of it as the container for all your activities. It does not necessarily mean you are being productive. It just means you are not standing still in time.
How To Use It
You use it just like 'to spend time' in English. You can use it alone or follow it with an activity. For example, you can passar tempo lendo (spend time reading). It is a regular verb, so it is easy to conjugate. Use it when you want to talk about your routine. Use it when you are describing your weekend. It is the ultimate filler for conversation.
When To Use It
Use it in almost any social setting. At a restaurant, you might say you love to passar tempo with friends. In a job interview, you can talk about how you passa tempo learning new skills. It is perfect for texting when someone asks what you are doing. If you are waiting for a bus, you are just passando o tempo. It is a very safe, all-purpose expression.
When NOT To Use It
Do not use it for money. In English, we 'spend' both time and money. In Portuguese, money is gastar. If you say you passou dinheiro, people will be very confused. Also, avoid it if you mean 'to have a good time' specifically. For that, use divertir-se. Passar tempo is neutral. You could be having the time of your life or be bored to tears.
Cultural Background
In Lusophone cultures, time is often seen as something to be shared. There is a huge emphasis on 'estar junto' (being together). Passar tempo often implies a social connection. It reflects a lifestyle that values the moment over the result. Whether it is a long coffee or a walk on the beach, the act of 'passing time' is a valid goal in itself. It is not always about 'using' time efficiently.
Common Variations
You will often hear passatempo as a single word. This means a 'hobby' or a 'pastime'. Another common one is passar o tempo. Adding that 'o' makes it feel more like you are killing time. If you are really enjoying yourself, you might say passar momentos. But stick to the classic passar tempo for 90% of your needs. It never goes out of style.
ملاحظات الاستخدام
The phrase is grammatically flexible and works in all registers. The main 'gotcha' is the confusion with 'gastar' (to spend money). In casual speech, the 'o' is often dropped or added without changing the meaning significantly.
The Money Trap
Never use 'passar' for money. If you say 'passei 50 reais', people will think you physically handed a bill to someone, not that you spent it.
The 'O' Factor
Adding 'o' (passar o tempo) often implies you are bored and just killing time until something better happens.
Make it a Noun
Turn it into 'passatempo' (one word) to talk about your favorite hobbies like soccer or knitting.
أمثلة
6Eu gosto de passar tempo no jardim.
I like to spend time in the garden.
Standard use for a regular hobby.
Adoro passar tempo com você.
I love spending time with you.
Expresses affection and quality time.
Costumo passar tempo estudando novas tecnologias.
I usually spend time studying new technologies.
Shows productivity in a professional way.
Estou só passando o tempo no Instagram.
I'm just passing the time on Instagram.
The 'o' adds the sense of 'killing time'.
Tivemos que passar tempo demais naquela fila!
We had to spend too much time in that line!
Used here to express frustration.
Seria um prazer passar tempo com sua equipe.
It would be a pleasure to spend time with your team.
Polite and appropriate for business networking.
اختبر نفسك
Choose the correct verb to say you spend time with your family.
Eu amo ___ tempo com minha família.
We use 'passar' for time. 'Gastar' is for money, and 'perder' means to lose time.
Complete the sentence describing a hobby.
Ela ___ muito tempo lendo livros.
Since the subject is 'Ela' (she), the verb 'passar' must be conjugated in the third person singular.
🎉 النتيجة: /2
وسائل تعلم بصرية
Formality of 'Passar Tempo'
Chatting with friends about your weekend.
Passando tempo no sofá.
The standard way to use the phrase.
Passar tempo com a família.
Professional settings or writing.
Passar tempo em reuniões.
Where to use Passar Tempo
Hobbies
Passar tempo pintando.
Socializing
Passar tempo no café.
Digital Life
Passar tempo no celular.
Waiting
Passar tempo na estação.
بنك التمارين
2 تمارينEu amo ___ tempo com minha família.
We use 'passar' for time. 'Gastar' is for money, and 'perder' means to lose time.
Ela ___ muito tempo lendo livros.
Since the subject is 'Ela' (she), the verb 'passar' must be conjugated in the third person singular.
🎉 النتيجة: /2
الأسئلة الشائعة
10 أسئلةNot exactly. Passar tempo is neutral, while gastar tempo implies you are using up a resource, sometimes even wasting it.
Yes, it is perfectly neutral. You can say Precisamos passar mais tempo analisando os dados (We need to spend more time analyzing the data).
Both are correct. Passar tempo is more general, while passar o tempo often means 'to kill time' or 'to pass the time' while waiting.
You say Eu passei muito tempo. Just add the adjective muito before tempo.
Absolutely. It is a universal expression across the entire Portuguese-speaking world.
Yes, you can say passar as férias or passar o feriado. It's the standard way to describe where you stayed during a break.
There isn't a direct opposite, but perder tempo (to waste time) is the negative version you'll hear most often.
Yes, passar tempo com alguém is the most common way to say you are hanging out with someone.
No, passatempo is a standard noun meaning 'hobby' or 'pastime'. It's very common in magazines and casual talk.
No, but if you want to sound more 'productive', you might use dedicar tempo (to dedicate time) instead.
عبارات ذات صلة
perder tempo
to waste time
aproveitar o tempo
to make the most of the time
dar um tempo
to take a break / to pause a relationship
com o passar do tempo
with the passing of time / as time goes by
