Spanish Phrase
Están por el pasillo.
Meaning
Literally “They are by the hallway.” It tells the listener that a group of people or objects is located somewhere along the hallway, not necessarily inside a specific room.
When to use
Use this phrase when you need to point out the whereabouts of several items or people in a building, school, office, or home, especially when the exact spot isn’t known but the general area is the hallway.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Estánporelpasillo
Están (estar)
Third‑person plural of the verb *estar*, used for temporary states or location.
por (preposition)
Indicates an approximate location, movement through, or a general area; here it means “down/around”.
el pasillo (noun)
Masculine singular noun meaning “the hallway”.
🗨In Conversation
¿Dónde están los libros que pedí?
Where are the books I asked for?
Están por el pasillo.
They’re down the hallway.
✕Common Mistakes
Son por el pasillo.
Use *estar* for location, not *ser*.
Está por el pasillo.
The subject is plural; the verb must agree.
Están en el pasillo.
Both *en* and *por* are correct, but *por* adds the nuance of ‘somewhere along’. Using *en* when you mean ‘around the hallway’ can sound too exact.
↔Alternatives
Están en el pasillo.
They are in the hallway.
Se encuentran por el pasillo.
They are located down the hallway.
Los tienes por el pasillo.
You have them down the hallway.
Cultural Tip
In many Spanish‑speaking regions, *por* conveys a looser sense of place than *en*. Saying *por el pasillo* suggests the items are somewhere along the length of the hallway, not necessarily right inside it. It’s a handy way to give directions without being overly precise.