You're standing at the front door of a friend's house in Madrid or Mexico City. They’ve invited you over for dinner, the smell of garlic and olive oil is wafting through the air, and you’re ready to step inside. Naturally, you want to ask, "Can I come in?" but your brain freezes. You know the word for "come" is venir. You know the word for "to enter" is entrar. But if you just literal-translate your way through this, you’re going to sound like a textbook from 1985—or worse, you might say something that makes absolutely no sense in the local logic.
Languages aren't just collections of words; they are different ways of seeing movement through space. In English, we use "come" and "go" based on where the speaker is or where the listener is. Spanish is pickier. It cares deeply about the destination and whether you are already there or moving toward it. If you want to master how to say can i come in spanish, you have to stop thinking in English and start thinking in "direction."
The Entrar vs. Venir Debate
Most beginners reach for ¿Puedo venir? because venir means "to come." Stop right there. If you are standing at the threshold of a room, you aren't "coming" to the room; you are "entering" it. The most natural, common, and "native-sounding" way to ask this is actually ¿Puedo pasar? The verb pasar literally means "to pass," but in this context, it translates to "Can I pass through the doorway?" or "Can I come in?" It’s polite. It’s effortless. It’s what you’ll hear in every household from Buenos Aires to Barcelona. If you want to be slightly more formal, you could say ¿Se puede? which is basically "Is it possible (to enter)?" It’s a short, punchy way to ask for permission without even needing a subject.
But why doesn't venir work?
📖 Related: Real image of devil: What history and art actually tell us
Think about it this way. Venir is used when you are moving toward the person you are talking to, but usually from a distance. If you are on the phone with a friend and you ask "Can I come over (to your house) later?" then ¿Puedo venir? or ¿Puedo ir? becomes the question. Even then, Spanish speakers often prefer ir (to go) because you are moving away from your current location. It's a mess, right? Honestly, it’s one of those things that makes Spanish beautiful and frustrating at the same time.
Breaking Down the "Pass" vs. "Enter" Nuance
Let's look at ¿Puedo entrar? This is perfectly correct. It’s literal. "Can I enter?" However, it can feel a bit clinical. You use entrar when you're talking about entering a building, a room, or a competition. In a social setting, pasar is the king of the castle. It implies a transition from the outside world into someone’s private space.
Imagine you’re at a doctor’s office. The nurse opens the door and looks at you. You don’t say ¿Puedo venir? because you’re already there. You say ¿Paso? (Should I go in?) or ¿Puedo pasar? ### Situations where you actually use "Come"
There are times when you really do need the "come" aspect. If you are at a party and you see a group of friends chatting in a circle, and you want to join them, you might ask, ¿Puedo unirme? (Can I join?). If you are asking if you can come along to an event, you’d say ¿Puedo ir? Wait, ir? Yes. This is the biggest hurdle for English speakers. In English, if I’m going to a party and I want you to come with me, I say "Come with me!" In Spanish, if we are both going to a place where neither of us is currently located, we use ir.
- ¿Quieres ir conmigo? (Do you want to go with me?)
- ¿Puedo ir? (Can I go/come along?)
You only use venir if the destination is exactly where the speaker is standing at that moment. If I am at the park and I call you, I say Ven al parque (Come to the park). If I am at home and I want you to join me, I say Ven a mi casa.
The Social Graces of Entry
Spanish culture, generally speaking, is very big on politeness markers. You don't just bark ¿Puedo entrar? like you're a cop with a warrant. You soften it. You make it a bit more "human."
- ¿Se puede pasar? (A bit more humble)
- ¿Me dejas entrar? (Can you let me in? – use this with friends)
- Con permiso... (This is a powerhouse phrase. You say it as you are physically moving into a space or through a crowd. It’s like "Excuse me/By your leave.")
Actually, Con permiso is probably the most useful phrase for any traveler. If you’re on a crowded bus and need to get off, you say permiso. If you’re walking into a kitchen where someone is cooking, you say permiso. It’s a verbal "knock" on the door. Usually, the person will respond with Pase (Go ahead/Come in) or Adelante (Forward/Come in).
✨ Don't miss: Jared Young Legacy High School: Why This New Approach to Learning Actually Works
Adelante is the gold standard for "Come in!" If you knock on a door in Mexico, you won't hear someone yell "Ven!" or "Entra!" as much as you'll hear a warm, welcoming ¡Adelante! It’s an invitation to move forward into their space.
Regional Slang and Variations
Is it the same everywhere? Mostly, but the "vibe" changes. In some parts of the Caribbean, people are much more informal. You might just hear ¡Pasa! or even ¡Sigue! (Continue/Keep going in).
In Colombia, there’s a high level of formal-politeness even among friends. You might hear ¿Me regala permiso? which literally translates to "Will you gift me permission?" It sounds incredibly flowery to an English ear, but it’s just the standard way of being sweet and respectful.
On the flip side, in Spain, things can be very direct. ¿Puedo? while gesturing toward a room is often enough. The context of your body language does 60% of the heavy lifting. If you’re holding a tray of drinks and standing at a door, everyone knows what you're asking.
The Grammar of Permission
If you're worried about the "can" part of can i come in spanish, remember that poder is your best friend.
- Puedo = I can
- Podemos = We can
- Podría = I could (more polite)
¿Podría pasar? is what you’d say if you were visiting a dignitary or maybe a very traditional grandmother you've never met. For most daily interactions, the present tense ¿Puedo...? is perfect.
But honestly, you can often drop the "can" entirely. In Spanish, we use the present tense to ask for things all the time. ¿Paso? is just as good as ¿Puedo pasar? It’s like saying "Do I come in?" but it functions exactly like "Can I come in?" It's faster and sounds less like you're reading from a phrasebook.
Common Pitfalls to Avoid
The biggest mistake is the "V-word." Using venir incorrectly is the hallmark of a "Gringo" accent (and I use that term affectionately).
📖 Related: African American History Colors: Why Red, Black, and Green Mean More Than You Think
If you call someone and say ¿Puedo venir a tu fiesta?, it sounds like you are already at the party or you think you are the center of the universe. Use ¿Puedo ir? Another weird one? Using entrar for getting into a car. In English, we "get in" a car. In Spanish, you "climb up" (subirse) or simply entrar al coche. If you ask a driver ¿Puedo venir al coche?, they’re going to look at you like you’ve lost your mind.
Practical Next Steps for Mastery
Don't just memorize the words; visualize the movement. Language learning is as much about muscle memory and spatial awareness as it is about vocabulary.
First, start using Con permiso immediately. It’s the easiest way to sound like a seasoned traveler. Use it when you're passing someone in a grocery store aisle or when you're entering a small shop. It establishes you as someone who understands the local social contract.
Second, practice the "Adelante" response. When someone knocks on your door, don't say "Come in." Use ¡Adelante! or ¡Pasa! It will feel weird at first, like you're playing a character, but that's how the neural pathways get built.
Third, pay attention to the "Ir vs. Venir" distinction in your native language for a day. Every time you say "come," ask yourself: "Am I moving toward the listener or is the listener moving toward me?" In Spanish, if you are moving toward them, and you aren't there yet, it's almost always ir.
Finally, if you’re ever in doubt when standing at a door, just make eye contact, tilt your head slightly, and say ¿Se puede? It is the ultimate "get out of jail free" card. It’s short, it’s polite, and it’s impossible to conjugate incorrectly because it’s a fixed phrase.
Get used to the idea that venir is rarely the answer for "coming in." The door is an entrance, so you either "pass" (pasar) or you "enter" (entrar). Once you flip that switch in your brain, you’ll stop translating and start speaking. Spanish is a language of action and direction—embrace the "pass" and you'll find that people open their doors to you much more warmly.