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lui passava

was passing, was going by, was spending, was crossing (someone’s mind)

→ passare
pass to pass, go through + ava 3rd-person singular imperfect
verb · 3rd-person singular, imperfect tense Uncommon #19,592
was passing, was going by
IT: Un autobus passava davanti a casa.
EN: A bus was passing in front of the house.
was spending
IT: Passava molto tempo al parco.
EN: He was spending a lot of time at the park.
was crossing (someone’s mind) In this meaning, it is commonly used in the phrase passare per la mente.
IT: Mi passava per la mente una vecchia canzone.
EN: An old song was crossing my mind.
Conjugation of passare
Indicative imperfect
SingularPlural
First passavo —
Third passava passavano

Passava i giorni nei locali in attesa del ruolo giusto che non arrivò mai.

He spent his days hanging around clubs, waiting for the right role that never came.

— Oh Boy - Un caffè a Berlino (2012)

Il suo naso era cresciuto tanto, che non passava più dalla porta.

His nose had grown so much that it no longer fit through the door.

Tom passava molto tempo con Mary.

Tom spent a lot of time with Mary.

E un uomo passava di lì.

And a man was passing by.

— Thirst (2009)

Ma il tempo passava.

But time passed.

— Parla con lei (2002)

Passava la notte da un'amica.

She was spending the night at a friend's place.

— Crimini e misfatti (1989)

Lui passava di lì ogni giorno.

He passed by there every day.

— Il nastro bianco (2009)

Molta gente passava sul marciapiedi.

A lot of people were walking along the sidewalk.

Diceva tutto quello che le passava per la mente.

She said everything that came to her mind.

— Scream 7 (2026)

Il tempo passava e io non facevo altro che guardarlo passare.

Time passed and I did nothing but watch it pass.

— Vivere (1952)

Così passava più tempo in acqua e meno all’ancora.

That way, it spent more time in the water and less time at anchor.

Eh, una volta passava il tempo con noi ma non è mai stato del tutto ok!

Eh, he used to hang out with us but he was never quite okay!

— L'uomo senza sonno (2004)

Passava il tempo in una caffetteria a guardare le ragazze passare.

He spent his time in a coffee shop watching the girls go by.

Tom passava molto tempo con sua nonna.

Tom spent a lot of time with his grandmother.

Chissà che gli passava per la testa.

Who knows what was going through his head.

— Nuovo Cinema Paradiso (1988)