estaba pasando

was happening

→ estar
phrase Uncommon #22,597
was happening Depending on context, it can also mean “was passing by.”
SP: ¿Qué estaba pasando en la calle?
EN: What was happening in the street?

Podían revisar esos libros y averiguar qué estaba pasando.

They could look through those books and find out what was going on.

Yo salí corriendo a ver que estaba pasando.

I ran out to see what was happening.

Ellos trataron de ocultar lo que realmente estaba pasando.

They tried to hide what was really happening.

Tenía la sensación de que algo malo estaba pasando.

I had a feeling that something bad was happening.

Porque estaba pasando en pequeños pueblos, en los mercados.

Because it was happening in small towns, in the markets.

Se me estaba pasando.

I was getting over it.

— Sueño de fuga (1994)

No podía creer lo que estaba pasando.

I couldn't believe what was happening.

Salí corriendo a ver que estaba pasando.

I ran out to see what was happening.

Tom estaba demasiado ocupado para advertir qué estaba pasando.

Tom was too busy to notice what was happening.

Algo le estaba pasando, físicamente.

Something was happening to him, physically.

Yo solo estaba pasando por allí.

I was just passing by.

— Sin piedad (2026)

Me imaginé que algo estaba pasando.

I figured something was going on.

Me pregunté qué estaba pasando.

I wondered what was happening.

— Как я провёл этим летом (2010)

Sabía que algo estaba pasando.

I knew something was up.

No sabía que esto estaba pasando.

I didn't know this was happening.

Solo estaba pasando a saludar.

I was just passing by to say hello.

— Los ilusionistas 3: Ahora me ves, ahora no (2025)

De repente no sabía qué estaba pasando.

Suddenly I didn't know what was happening.

— La princesa Mononoke (1997)