estaba pasando

was happening

→ estar

phrase Uncommon #19,349

was happening Also used in expressions like pasar a saludar: to stop by to say hello.

SP: No entendí lo que estaba pasando.

EN: I didn’t understand what was happening.

De repente no sabía qué estaba pasando.

Suddenly I didn't know what was happening.

— La princesa Mononoke (1997)

Me pregunté qué estaba pasando.

I wondered what was happening.

— Как я провёл этим летом (2010)

Tom estaba demasiado ocupado para advertir qué estaba pasando.

Tom was too busy to notice what was happening.

Tenía la sensación de que algo malo estaba pasando.

I had a feeling that something bad was happening.

Solo estaba pasando el rato con algunos de mis amigos.

I was just hanging out with some of my friends.

Salí corriendo a ver que estaba pasando.

I ran out to see what was happening.

No sabía que esto estaba pasando.

I didn't know this was happening.

Yo salí corriendo a ver que estaba pasando.

I ran out to see what was happening.

No podía creer lo que estaba pasando.

I couldn't believe what was happening.

Me imaginé que algo estaba pasando.

I figured something was going on.

Se me estaba pasando.

I was getting over it.

— Cadena perpetua (1994)

Tom se lo estaba pasando bien.

Tom was having a good time.

Solo estaba pasando a saludar.

I was just passing by to say hello.

— Ahora me ves 3 (2025)

Yo solo estaba pasando por allí.

I was just passing by.

— Sin piedad (2026)

Algo le estaba pasando, físicamente.

Something was happening to him, physically.

Sabía que algo estaba pasando.

I knew something was up.