[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/pas/)

[dictionaries](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [English](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/) / [P](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/p/) / pas

# pas

adverb (French «pas» = not); noun (a pas — a step in ballet; plural pas); in phrases «faux pas», «pas de deux» — not an English word on its own

«pas» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. (French) «Pas» means «not» in French, used with «ne»: «je ne sais pas» is «I don't know»; in casual French people often just say «pas». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pas/#m1)
2. (French, ballet) «Pas» means «a step» in dance: a «pas de deux» is a dance for two people. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pas/#m2)
3. «A faux pas» (from French, meaning «false step») is an embarrassing social mistake, like saying the wrong thing at a party. To an English ear «pas» sounds like «pah». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pas/#m3)
4. In some old dialect spellings, "pas" means "past", as in "ran past". [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pas/#m4)

### In the lessons

In French lessons «pas» is part of the negative: «ce n'est pas grave» (it's not a big deal), «pas du tout» (not at all), «pas mal» (not bad). In ballet classes «pas» names steps. In English, «a faux pas» is used in everyday talk for a social blunder. Also, in French «un pas» is a footstep.

### Examples

- «Je ne sais pas» means «I don't know». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pas/#x1)
- «Pas mal!» means «not bad!» [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pas/#x2)
- «Pas du tout» means «not at all». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pas/#x3)
- In ballet, a «pas de deux» is a dance for two. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pas/#x4)
- Wearing trainers to the wedding was a bit of a faux pas. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pas/#x5)
- French «pas» sounds like «pah», and the «s» is silent. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pas/#x6)
- «Ce n'est pas grave» means «it doesn't matter». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pas/#x7)
- "Col'!" exclaimed Uncle Remus; "hit got pas' col' on der quarter stretch. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pas/#x8)

### Note

French, not English, except in borrowed phrases like «faux pas» (said «foh pah»). The «s» is silent. Do not confuse with «pa» (informal for father) or «pass».

## In Jewish tradition

Part of a place name, Pas-dammim, where David and his warriors stood against the Philistines in a field of barley.

**Interpretation.** Pas-dammim is a battle site; the tradition sees it as a place where God gave Israel victory through David's men.

### Examples

- He was with David at Pas-dammim, and there the Philistines were gathered together to battle, where was a plot of ground full of barley; and the people fled from before the Philistines. (Writings 1CH.11.13, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/P/pas/#x1)

### Note

French, not English, except in borrowed phrases like «faux pas» (said «foh pah»). The «s» is silent. Do not confuse with «pa» (informal for father) or «pass».

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «pas» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pas/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«pas» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/pas.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «pas» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/P/pas/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«pas» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/pas.html) on Mova free.