esta pasando

is happening; is going through

→ estar

phrase Rare #45,407

is happening; is going through The correctly accented form is “está pasando.” It is used to ask or talk about what is happening or what someone is experiencing. The unaccented form “esta pasando” is common in informal writing but is not standard Spanish orthography.

SP: No entiendo qué esta pasando aquí.

EN: I don’t understand what’s happening here.

A ver si me pones al día de lo que esta pasando en esta casa.

Let me know what’s going on in this house.

— Todo sobre mi madre (1999)

Estará más pálido a menos que me diga qué esta pasando.

He'll be even paler unless he tells me what's going on.

— O Auto da Compadecida (2000)

Ruego por lo que usted esta pasando?

I pray for what you are going through.

— Mother Night (1996)

Que esta pasando.

What's going on?

— Train to Busan (2016)