Spanish Phrase
¿Desde cuándo pasa esto?
Meaning
The speaker is asking for the moment when a particular situation started. It implies that the event is still happening and the listener is expected to know the timeline.
When to use
Use this question when you notice something unusual or persistent and you want to know its origin—e.g., a new habit, a recurring problem, or a recent change in behavior.
✦Grammar Breakdown
¿Desdecuándopasaesto?
Desde cuándo
A fixed phrase used to ask about the starting point of an ongoing situation. It combines the preposition 'desde' (since) with the interrogative adverb 'cuándo' (when).
Verb: pasar (present)
Third‑person singular present of 'pasar' (to happen, to occur). In questions the subject can be omitted because it is understood.
Demonstrative pronoun 'esto'
Neutral demonstrative pronoun meaning 'this' that refers to a situation, event, or thing just mentioned.
Question word order
Spanish questions often invert the verb and subject, but with 'desde cuándo' the verb follows the interrogative phrase directly.
🗨In Conversation
¿Desde cuándo pasa esto?
Since when has this been happening?
Desde la semana pasada, cuando cambiaron el horario.
Since last week, when they changed the schedule.
✕Common Mistakes
¿Desde que pasa esto?
Use 'desde cuándo' for a direct question about time; 'desde que' introduces a subordinate clause.
¿Desde cuándo pasa él esto?
The verb should stay in third‑person singular; avoid adding a subject pronoun that changes meaning.
¿Desde cuando pasa esto?
The interrogative adverb needs an accent: 'cuándo'.
↔Alternatives
¿Desde hace cuánto tiempo ocurre esto?
Since how long has this been occurring?
¿Desde cuándo sucede esto?
Since when does this happen?
¿Cuándo empezó esto?
When did this start?
Cultural Tip
In everyday Spanish, '¿Desde cuándo…?' is perfectly natural and informal. In more formal writing you might prefer '¿Desde hace cuánto tiempo…?' which explicitly mentions the duration. Avoid mixing the two forms; 'desde que' introduces a clause (e.g., 'desde que llegaste') and cannot replace 'desde cuándo' in a direct question.