Portuguese Phrase
Espero passar.
Meaning
Literally, ‘I hope to pass.’ It is used when the speaker is uncertain about the outcome of a test, exam, interview, or any situation where a ‘pass’ result is possible.
When to use
Use this phrase right before you receive a result (exam, driving test, job interview) or when you are talking about a future challenge you want to succeed in.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Esperopassar
Esperar (present indicative)
‘Espero’ is the first‑person singular of the verb ‘esperar’ in the present indicative, meaning ‘I hope’ or ‘I expect’. It is followed by an infinitive.
Infinitive after esperar
When ‘esperar’ expresses a wish, it is directly followed by an infinitive verb (e.g., ‘passar’). No conjunction like ‘que’ is used.
🗨In Conversation
Você vai passar no teste?
Are you going to pass the test?
Espero passar.
I hope to pass.
✕Common Mistakes
Espero que passar.
‘Esperar que’ requires a subjunctive clause, not an infinitive. The correct form is ‘espero que eu passe’. If you want the infinitive, drop ‘que’.
Eu espero passar.
While grammatically correct, the subject pronoun ‘eu’ is usually omitted in Portuguese because the verb ending already indicates the subject.
Espero passei.
‘Passei’ is past tense (I passed). Use it only after you know the result, not when you are still hoping.
↔Alternatives
Desejo passar.
I wish to pass.
Quero passar.
I want to pass.
Tenho esperança de passar.
I have hope of passing.
Cultural Tip
In Brazilian Portuguese, modesty is valued, so saying ‘Espero passar’ sounds polite and realistic. Over‑confident statements like ‘Vou passar com certeza’ can be perceived as bragging, especially before a result is known. In formal contexts (e.g., a university office), you might add ‘com licença’ before the phrase to soften it.