How do you say 'hang out' in Spanish?

The most common ways are pasar el rato (spend time casually), salir (go out), and juntarse (get together), with usage varying by region.

What is the difference between salir and pasar el rato?

Salir implies going out somewhere, while pasar el rato emphasizes the casual, relaxed nature of spending time together regardless of location.

How do you ask a friend to hang out in Spanish?

You can say ¿Quieres salir? or ¿Nos juntamos? — both are natural, casual invitations to spend time together.

Spanish vocabulary · Beginner

Hang Out in Spanish: Pasar El Rato

Written by Sofia Ramirez, Lead Spanish Curriculum Editor · Reviewed May 2026

Pasar El Rato · verb · pah-SAR el RRAH-toh

Pasar el rato is a common Spanish expression for hang out, meaning to spend time casually. Salir and juntarse are popular alternatives.

pah-SAR el RRAH-toh

Vamos a pasar el rato en el parque.

Let's hang out at the park.

Hang Out in Spanish: Quick Reference

Below are the most common Spanish words for hang out, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.

Spanish	English	Pronunciation	Region / Register
pasar el rato	hang out	pah-SAR el RRAH-toh	Default, widely understood
salir	hang out		going out
juntarse	hang out		Latin America, informal

How Native Speakers Use Pasar El Rato

Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.

Weekend plans

¿Quieres salir a pasar el rato este sábado?

Do you want to hang out this Saturday?

Making casual weekend plans.

Friends gathering

Nos juntamos en mi casa para pasar el rato.

We hung out at my house.

Describing a casual gathering.

After school

Después de clases nos gusta pasar el rato en la plaza.

After school we like to hang out in the plaza.

Students relaxing after class.

Avoid These Mistakes When Using Pasar El Rato

Literal translation

Incorrect: Vamos a colgar afuera.

Correct: Vamos a pasar el rato.

Colgar afuera is a word-for-word translation of hang out that makes no sense in Spanish — use pasar el rato or salir instead.

Formality mismatch

Incorrect: Señor director, ¿quiere juntarse?

Correct: Señor director, ¿le gustaría reunirse?

Juntarse is very informal — for professional or formal settings, use reunirse (to meet) instead.

Lock in Hang Out Vocabulary with the Parrot Method

Why word lists alone don't stick

Memorizing a translation feels productive, but most learners forget 70% of what they studied within 48 hours. Vocabulary needs spaced repetition AND real-world exposure to transfer to long-term memory.

See Pasar El Rato used by native speakers

Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using pasar el rato in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear Vamos a pasar el rato en el parque. while watching someone live the moment, connecting meaning, sound, and rhythm at once.

Save, review, repeat, stay consistent

Tap any word to save it. Parrot's spaced-repetition system surfaces it right before you'd forget, no manual flashcard creation. The watch, parrot back, save, review cycle turns recognition into fluency at 2.7x the speed of traditional study.

Common Questions About Hang Out in Spanish

How do you say 'hang out' in Spanish?: The most common ways are pasar el rato (spend time casually), salir (go out), and juntarse (get together), with usage varying by region.
What is the difference between salir and pasar el rato?: Salir implies going out somewhere, while pasar el rato emphasizes the casual, relaxed nature of spending time together regardless of location.
How do you ask a friend to hang out in Spanish?: You can say ¿Quieres salir? or ¿Nos juntamos? — both are natural, casual invitations to spend time together.