How do you say “Water under the bridge” in Spanish?
The closest natural Spanish equivalent is Agua pasada, which literally means “Past water”. English speakers use water under the bridge to mean something unpleasant that happened in the past and is no longer worth worrying about. An established phrase for an old matter that no longer has importance. In reconciliation, “eso ya es agua pasada” can accept an apology. Register: informal, neutral. Usage frequency: common.
Closest natural Spanish
Agua pasada
/ˈaɡwa paˈsada/
- Literal meaning
- “Past water”
- Register
- informal, neutral
- How often it's used
- common
- Equivalence
Near-exact equivalent
97 out of 100
What a native Spanish speaker would actually say
Both expressions imagine water that has moved on. Spanish does not need the bridge to suggest that the moment is gone.
In either language, the phrase can help close an old argument. It can also sound dismissive if the other person still feels hurt.
How close is the meaning?
- Meaning5 out of 5
- Tone5 out of 5
- Context5 out of 5
- Literal similarity4 out of 5
These ratings are editorial approximations, not measurements.
What are other ways to say it in Spanish?
Eso ya pasó
Literally: “That already passed”
Simple reassurance that the matter is over.
Lo pasado, pasado está
Literally: “What has passed is past”
A firmer invitation to leave the past alone.
Common translation traps
Agua debajo del puente
This is a physical description; agua pasada is the established expression for a past matter.
The notes above explain why these versions do not work in this context in Spanish.
In context
English
Do not worry about the argument. It is water under the bridge.
Spanish
No te preocupes por la discusión. Ya es agua pasada.
English
We had our differences, but that is water under the bridge now.
Spanish
Tuvimos nuestras diferencias, pero eso ya es agua pasada.
Related expressions
- What “Water under the bridge” means in English
- A blessing in disguise, A misfortune that turns out well.
- Burn your bridges, To cut off any way back.
Last updated 2026-09-13