Spanish - Inviting & Passing

Lesson 141 of 159

Learner at a doorway practicing Spanish social phrases like 'Pasa' and '¿Puedo pasar?' for polite interactions.

Goal: Friendly entry and polite ways to let people go first

Free Spanish lessons with guided practice, audio, and speaking support.

Welcome to Lesson 141! Short and friendly — we’ll practice common ways to invite someone in, ask to pass, and let others go first. Repeat aloud, listen, then try the quick quizzes.

Level A1: In this lesson you’ll learn everyday Spanish phrases used in homes and crowded places across Latin America: invitations to enter, short excuses, and polite ways to let someone go first. This CEFR-aligned mini-lesson focuses on phrases you can say right away: Pasa, ¿Puedo pasar?, Ponte cómodo., Permiso, Con permiso, Después de ti, and Primero tú.

After this lesson you'll be able to:

  • Level A1: Recognize and use polite entry and passing phrases in Spanish.
  • Practice inviting someone in and asking to pass through a doorway or crowd.
  • Learn two short ways to say “excuse me” and how to let someone go first.
A friendly home entry scene showing invitation and polite passing phrases in Spanish for A1 learners.

Ready? Let's go!

When you tap play on phrases, we track your progress through this lesson.

1. Reading + Listening Practice

Hear core phrases, repeat aloud.

Ponte cómodo.

Make yourself comfortable.

Meaning: Make yourself comfortable.

When to use: Say this when someone arrives at your home or sits down — a warm, informal invitation to relax.

Ponte cómodo, la película empieza en diez minutos.
Make yourself comfortable, the movie starts in ten minutes.
Siéntate y ponte cómodo junto a la ventana.
Sit down and make yourself comfortable by the window.

Después de ti.

After you.

Meaning: After you.

When to use: Use this polite phrase to let someone go first—good in queues, doorways, or narrow spaces.

Tip: Beginners sometimes try 'Después de usted' in the wrong tone; use 'Después de ti' with friends and neutral polite moments.

No, después de ti, entra primero.
No, after you, go in first.
Cuando salimos del cine, dije: 'Después de ti'.
When we left the cinema, I said: 'After you.'

Primero tú.

You first.

Meaning: You first.

When to use: A friendly, informal way to tell someone they can go ahead of you.

¿Quieres elegir la mesa? — Primero tú.
Do you want to choose the table? — You first.
Al entrar al salón, le dije: 'Primero tú'.
Entering the room, I said to them: 'You first.'

¿Puedo pasar?

May I come in / pass through?

Meaning: May I come in / pass through?

When to use: Ask this at doors, narrow spaces, or before entering a room when you need permission.

En el pasillo lleno, pregunté: '¿Puedo pasar?'
In the crowded hallway I asked, 'May I pass?'
Antes de entrar al salón, dije: '¿Puedo pasar?'.
Before entering the living room, I said: 'May I come in?'

Con permiso.

Excuse me / with your permission.

Meaning: Excuse me / with your permission.

When to use: Polite phrase when passing by someone, interrupting, or asking to go through — slightly more formal than 'Permiso'.

Con permiso, ¿puedo interrumpir un momento?
Excuse me, may I interrupt for a moment?
Con permiso, voy a pasar hacia la cocina.
Excuse me, I'm going to pass through to the kitchen.

Permiso.

Excuse me.

Meaning: Excuse me.

When to use: Shorter form used when moving through a crowd or quickly passing someone.

Tip: Sometimes learners use 'Permiso' to mean 'permission granted' — here it’s a polite request to move by.

Permiso, necesito pasar para alcanzar la mesa.
Excuse me, I need to pass to reach the table.
Ella dijo 'Permiso' y atravesó la fila.
She said 'Excuse me' and went through the line.

Pasa

Come in.

Meaning: Come in.

When to use: A friendly, informal invitation to enter — say this when someone knocks or arrives at your door.

Al abrir la puerta, dijo: 'Pasa'.
When opening the door, she said: 'Come in.'
Si tienes hambre, pasa y siéntate con nosotros.
If you're hungry, come in and sit with us.

2. Conversational Listening Practice

Hear phrases in a real mini-conversation.

Anna welcomes David at the door and they use short polite phrases for entering and sitting down.

Anna invites David into her home and they use everyday Spanish phrases to be polite and comfortable.

What phrase does Anna use to invite David inside?

Portrait of Anna in a Spanish lesson dialogue

Anna

Hola, David. ¡Pasa!

Hi, David. Come in!

Portrait of David in a Spanish lesson dialogue

David

Gracias. ¿Puedo pasar?

Thanks. May I come in?

Portrait of Anna in a Spanish lesson dialogue

Anna

Sí, claro — ponte cómodo.

Yes, of course — make yourself comfortable.

Portrait of David in a Spanish lesson dialogue

David

Permiso, voy a sentarme junto a la ventana.

Excuse me, I'm going to sit by the window.

Portrait of Anna in a Spanish lesson dialogue

Anna

Primero tú, luego traigo algo de beber.

You first, then I'll bring something to drink.

3. Guided Practice

Quizzes and matching to lock in meaning.

Which Spanish phrase means 'Make yourself comfortable'?

Which short phrase do people often say when they need to move through a crowded hallway?

Which phrase politely lets someone go first?

Which question do you use to ask permission to enter someone's home?

Anna opens the door and says: 'Come in.'

Ana abre la puerta y dice: '___'.

In a formal situation with a stranger, you say: 'After you.'

En una situación formal con un desconocido, dices: '___'.

Before entering Anna's house, you ask: 'May I come in?'

Antes de entrar a la casa de Ana, preguntas: '___'.

Match the core phrases

Match the extra phrases

4. Speaking Practice

Say phrases yourself (mic/recording).

Recording stays on your device only. Check speech uses your browser's speech tools when available.

Say this phrase out loud:

Ponte cómodo.

Make yourself comfortable.

Say this phrase out loud:

Después de ti.

After you.

Say this phrase out loud:

Primero tú.

You first.

Say this phrase out loud:

¿Puedo pasar?

May I come in / pass through?

Say this phrase out loud:

Con permiso.

Excuse me / with your permission.

Say this phrase out loud:

Permiso.

Excuse me.

Say this phrase out loud:

Pasa

Come in.