Portuguese Phrase
Sim, passei.
Meaning
Literally ‘Yes, I passed.’ The phrase is used to confirm that you succeeded in something – most often an exam, a test, or a challenge – but it can also refer to physically passing a place.
When to use
Use this short answer after someone asks whether you succeeded, e.g., ‘Você passou no exame?’ or ‘Você conseguiu passar a rua?’ It works in informal conversation and in semi‑formal contexts such as school or work updates.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Sim,passei.
Sim (affirmation)
‘Sim’ is the standard affirmative particle in Portuguese, equivalent to ‘yes’ in English. It can stand alone or precede a clause.
passei (preterite of passar)
‘Passei’ is the first‑person singular preterite of the verb ‘passar’. It can mean ‘I passed (an exam, a test)’, ‘I passed by (a place)’, or ‘I went through (a situation)’, depending on context.
Comma usage
In spoken Portuguese a short pause is natural after ‘Sim’; the comma in writing mirrors that pause but is optional.
🗨In Conversation
Você passou na prova de matemática?
Did you pass the math test?
Sim, passei.
Yes, I passed.
✕Common Mistakes
Sim, passarei.
‘Passarei’ is future tense (I will pass). Use ‘passei’ for something that already happened.
Sim, passei‑lhe.
The clitic ‘‑lhe’ changes the meaning to ‘I passed it to him/her’. It’s not needed in a simple affirmation.
Sim, passei‑se.
‘‑se’ makes the verb reflexive (I passed myself), which is not the intended meaning.
↔Alternatives
Sim, eu passei.
Yes, I passed.
Passei, sim.
I passed, yes.
Consegui passar.
I managed to pass.
Aprovado!
Approved! (I passed.)
Cultural Tip
In Brazil, modesty is valued, so after a big success many people will downplay it with a simple ‘Sim, passei’ rather than a boastful statement. In formal settings (e.g., a job interview) you might add a brief explanation: ‘Sim, passei no exame e obtive a nota 9,5.’ Also note that ‘passei’ can be ambiguous; make sure the surrounding context makes it clear you’re talking about a test, not just walking past a place.