Que Pasa vs Que Paso: Key Difference Explained
“¿Qué pasa?” is the correct present-tense greeting: “What’s happening?” “¿Qué pasó?” is past tense: “What happened?” They’re two separate verbs, not spelling variants.
Spanish learners—and even native speakers texting in a hurry—swap the endings because the single letter “a/ó” is easy to mistype on WhatsApp or in a quick DM, especially with autocorrect toggling between moods.
Key Differences
Present “pasa” asks about the current moment; past “pasó” asks about something already done. Accent marks decide both tense and meaning, so “que pasa” without the accent can look like a subordinate clause instead of a question.
Which One Should You Choose?
Use “¿Qué pasa?” when greeting friends or checking in right now. Reserve “¿Qué pasó?” for follow-ups after an event, accident, or missed call—never the other way round unless you want puzzled stares.
Examples and Daily Life
Walk into a café: “¿Qué pasa, chicos?” Text after a missed call: “¿Qué pasó? Llámame.” Hear sirens outside and ask a neighbor: “¿Qué pasó aquí?” Each choice sets the timeline instantly.
Can I drop the accent marks online?
No—doing so flips the meaning or breaks grammar rules entirely.
Is “que pasa” ever correct without the question mark?
Yes, inside a larger sentence: “No sé que pasa con él.”