No pasa nada
It's fine, no worries, no harm done — Spain's all-purpose formula for letting things go.
Related lesson: Everyday Phrases Textbooks Never Teach.
Hear it in context
—Perdona el retraso. —Nada, no pasa nada.
"Sorry I'm late." "Don't worry, it's fine."
Si no puedes venir, no pasa nada, lo dejamos para otro día.
If you can't make it, no worries, we'll leave it for another day.
Tranquilo, no pasa nada, eso se arregla en un momento.
Relax, it's fine, that can be fixed in no time.
¿Seguro que no pasa nada si llego a las diez?
Are you sure it's okay if I arrive at ten?
What It Actually Means
Literally “nothing is happening,” no pasa nada is Spain’s universal formula for defusing a situation: accepting an apology, waving off a mistake, reassuring someone, or granting permission. It tells the other person the matter is closed and nobody is upset.
The Rule That Matters
The double negative is correct and mandatory — no pasa nada, never pasa nada on its own as a statement. As a question, though, ¿Pasa algo? (“Is something wrong?”) is the natural counterpart, and a curt ¿Pasa algo? can even sound like a challenge.
Why It’s Everywhere
The phrase carries real cultural weight: it reflects a broadly shared instinct in Spain not to make small problems big ones. Spilled a drink, showed up late, forgot a name — no pasa nada smooths it over. Foreigners often notice how quickly friction dissolves once someone says it, and Spaniards themselves half-joke about el país del no pasa nada, where nothing is ever quite serious enough to fuss about.
Common Pitfall
Learners tend to answer apologies with a textbook no importa or está bien, which are understood but slightly cold. No pasa nada is the warm, native choice — and it works in every register, from close friends to complete strangers to your boss.