
Pause and Learn: The Many Ways to Say ‘Stop’ in Spanish
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“Stop!” – a simple word with such a powerful impact, yet its expression varies widely from language to language. The beauty of Spanish lies in its range of ways to say “stop,” each suiting different contexts and moments. Whether you’re looking to express this command as a verb or noun, Spanish offers a rich variety of options.
At SpanishVIP, we’ve delved into the language’s nuances to bring you an in-depth exploration of how to say “stop” in Spanish. Our guide is packed with everyday phrases used by Spanish speakers, helping you learn and understand the precise moments to use each variant. So, if you’re ready to add another dimension to your Spanish vocabulary, join us as we dive into the world of ‘stop’ in the vibrant language of Spanish.
DID YOU KNOW…?
Traffic signals known in English as “Stop”, in Spanish are generally translated as “Pare”.
Stop in Spanish: Alto
“Alto” translates into English as “High” or “Tall”, but when used as one of the Spanish imperatives, it takes on a different meaning. Depending on the context, “alto” is used to ask someone to stop or cease what they’re doing. While not a commonly used phrase in the everyday narrative, police officers in certain countries frequently use it to command a fugitive to halt. Let’s explore some examples of using the word “alto“:
- “Alto.” – Stop.
- “Alto ahí.” – Stop there.
- “Manos en alto.” (Hands up) – Although in this sentence the word “alto” translates as “up”, it is an expression used by members of the police or military forces that have the implicit meaning of asking someone to stop, in addition to raising their hands.
- “Hay que ponerle un alto al crimen.” – Crime must be stopped.
- “Alto al fuego.” – Ceasefire.
Stop in Spanish: Parar
The verb “parar” ranks among the most popular and frequently used ways to express “stop” in Spanish. However, it’s essential not to confuse this verb with the preposition “para“, which generally translates as “for”. While they might seem similar, their usage and meaning are distinctly different. Here are some examples where the verb “parar” (to stop) is used in its infinitive form:
- “Voy a parar de hacer esto.” – I’m going to stop doing this.
- “Ayudame a parar el autobus.” – Help me stop the bus.
- “No sé como parar, ¿Me ayudas?” – I don’t know how to stop, can you help me?
- “Él no quiere parar.” – He doesn’t want to stop.
- “¿Por qué parar? Sigamos adelante.” – Why stop? Let’s move on.
However, this does not end here, as there are many ways to conjugate the word “stop” referring to stopping something or someone. For example, the command “Stop”, which is an order given to a person or thing to stop what they are doing, could be conjugated in each pronoun “you” and “we” in Spanish in the following ways:
Spanish Pronoun 12722_edf689-b6> |
Spanish Command 12722_7fe2ab-aa> |
English Pronoun 12722_f738ef-4c> |
English Command 12722_954857-e3> |
---|---|---|---|
Usted 12722_9a09e9-84> |
Pare 12722_0b8484-84> |
You 12722_fe7693-ae> |
Stop 12722_0a3732-e2> |
Tú 12722_49241f-c4> |
Para 12722_4f362a-43> |
You 12722_9e1bbb-f4> |
Stop 12722_864d1c-dc> |
Ustedes 12722_0437e3-82> |
Paren 12722_b62225-b6> |
You (plural) 12722_5bb4b5-b8> |
Stop 12722_8c4956-b0> |
Vosotros 12722_903aee-93> |
Parad 12722_a9883a-93> |
You (Spanish plural) 12722_3bf605-9c> |
Stop 12722_40c1dc-1a> |
Nosotros 12722_21b895-ae> |
Paremos 12722_c1be08-22> |
We 12722_c7ea75-b7> |
Let’s stop 12722_804682-74> |
Some examples of these command conjugations are:
- “Para de hacer esto.” – Stop doing this
- “Quiero que pare de jugar ahora.” – I want you to stop playing now.
- “Por favor, paren con la fiesta.” – Please stop the party.
Conjugation of “parar” in each pronoun
The following table summarizes the form of conjugation of the verb “parar” in each personal pronoun:
Spanish Pronoun 12722_3dbd1f-23> |
Spanish Command 12722_357a09-ae> |
English Pronoun 12722_f554a0-21> |
English Command 12722_039548-48> |
---|---|---|---|
Usted 12722_ac7d44-fd> |
Pare 12722_447f7e-6d> |
You 12722_133907-ef> |
Stop 12722_a08ab3-25> |
Tú 12722_29be58-6e> |
Para 12722_4024d7-db> |
You 12722_ea4e15-0e> |
Stop 12722_61c269-4d> |
Ustedes 12722_148053-da> |
Paren 12722_287cf9-fe> |
You (plural) 12722_3b9c9a-33> |
Stop 12722_930bfb-81> |
Vosotros 12722_8661f7-a3> |
Parad 12722_4992bc-5c> |
You (Spanish plural) 12722_88064d-ab> |
Stop 12722_fa7ca5-8f> |
Nosotros 12722_ace611-25> |
Paremos 12722_0a4dde-27> |
We 12722_91e8f0-4b> |
Let’s stop 12722_b705c0-42> |
Some examples with each pronoun are the following:
- “Yo paro con la actuación cuando el director me lo pide.” – I stop acting when the director asks me to.
- “Cada vez que usted para de correr, yo me tranquilizo.” – Every time you stop running, I calm down.
- “Si tú no paras, yo no paro.” – If you don’t stop, I don’t stop.
- “Normalmente, él para de jugar fútbol media hora después.” – Normally, he stops playing soccer half an hour later.
- “Algunas veces ella para un taxi para ir a la universidad.” – Sometimes she hails a taxi to go to the university.
- “Cuando ustedes paran de bailar, la gente se aburre.” – When you stop dancing, people get bored.
- “Si vosotros paráis de desobedecer, no los castigaré.” – If you stop disobeying, I will not punish you.
- “Ellos paran el tráfico de la ciudad.” – They stop the city traffic.
- “Algunas veces paramos para ir a comer, sólo si alguien tiene hambre.” – Sometimes we stop to go eat, only if someone is hungry.
Usage of “parar de”
Normally, the expression “parar” is used when we will next mention a noun. This is the structure of a normal sentence:
- Pronoun + parar (conjugated-optional) + noun
Example: “Ella para la fiesta.” / She stops the party.
However, in Spanish, you can use the expression “stop from” in an infinitive or conjugated form, if it is followed by an infinitive verb. The structure is this:
- Pronoun + parar de (conjugated) + infinitive verb + noun/complement (optional)
Example: “Ellos paran de practicar baloncesto.” / They stop practicing basketball.
Some concrete examples are:
- “Yo paro de cantar cuando me desafino.” – I stop singing when I go out of tune.
- “Ellos paran de jugar a la Playstation.“ – They stop playing Playstation.
- “Nosotros paramos de tener relaciones íntimas.” – We stop having intimate relationships.
- “Ustedes paran de sentirse alegres cuando llega su madre.” – You stop feeling happy when your mother arrives.
- “Ella para de ver televisión cuando se aburre.” – She stops watching TV when she gets bored.
More about “stop” as a verb and noun
The verb “parar” can have several different meanings to “stop”, such as the following:
- Ponerse de pie – To stand up:
“Camila, si te puedes parar de la silla, hazlo ahora.“ – Camila, if you can get up from the chair, do it now. - Hacer huelga – To go on strike:
“Invitamos a todos los estudiantes de la universidad a parar este fin de semana.“ – We invite all the students of the university to go on strike this weekend.
As for nouns, we can also find several examples of different meanings such as the following:
- Huelga – Strike:
“Hoy hay huelga de hambre.“ – Today there is a hunger strike. - Paro – Unemployment: This meaning applies mainly to Spain, where there is a program in which the unemployed can benefit from “paro”, that is, they can have a salary while they get another job.
“El paro me deja más pasta que mi antiguo trabajo.” – Paro gives me more money than my old job. - Parada – Stop: (as in bus stop):
“La parada de bus queda allá.“ – The bus stop is there. - Paradero – Whereabouts:
“No sabemos cuál fue su paradero.“ – We don’t know what his whereabouts were.
Stop in Spanish: “Dejar” or “Dejar de”
Another phrase or expression widely used in Spanish is to refer to “stop” someone or something, that is to say “to stop”. Some examples in the infinitive are the following:
- “Debo dejar el cigarillo cuanto antes.” – I have to quit smoking as soon as possible.
- “Tu puedes dejar de practicar si no te gusta.” – You can stop practicing if you don’t like it.
- “Ellos necesitan dejar la pelea.” – They need to stop the fight.
QUICK NOTE…
As you continue mastering Spanish, knowing how to effectively express ‘stop’ is just the start. Communication often involves being able to express disagreement or denial, too. Enhance your language skills further by exploring our guide on the many ways to say ‘No’ in Spanish.
Conjugation of “dejar” in each pronoun
The following conjugations are the same for “dejar” or “dejar de”:
Spanish Pronoun 12722_aa7b81-0f> |
Spanish Verb 12722_26051f-b4> |
English Pronoun 12722_e7c160-03> |
English Verb 12722_c2c536-fa> |
---|---|---|---|
Yo 12722_04531d-97> |
Dejo / Dejo de 12722_4e7a64-12> |
I 12722_dfc6a1-0d> |
Stop 12722_0966b8-d9> |
Usted 12722_21d300-f5> |
Deja / Deja de 12722_1d1dd0-42> |
You 12722_82acee-af> |
Stop 12722_5a9971-48> |
Tú 12722_55ccc5-e0> |
Dejas / Dejas de 12722_934fab-a3> |
You 12722_071b38-34> |
Stop 12722_7d2bad-25> |
Él 12722_06df8a-be> |
Deja / Deja de 12722_245e94-6b> |
He 12722_c55e21-f3> |
Stops 12722_a274e9-c8> |
Ella 12722_912627-51> |
Deja / Deja de 12722_7ef6a5-84> |
She 12722_4415f1-87> |
Stops 12722_bf52af-42> |
Ustedes 12722_59cbc7-05> |
Dejan / Dejan de 12722_742f38-68> |
You (plural) 12722_70cdd4-78> |
Stop 12722_36a60e-9f> |
Vosotros 12722_74b2ed-f8> |
Dejáis / Dejáis de 12722_627ea1-89> |
You (Spanish plural) 12722_604221-a0> |
Stop 12722_f5875b-d9> |
Ellos 12722_4a00a1-2f> |
Dejan / Dejan de 12722_21728b-d1> |
They 12722_e7b665-19> |
Stop 12722_a56a14-63> |
Nosotros 12722_0a7737-5d> |
Dejamos / Dejamos de 12722_ff4976-bf> |
We 12722_208083-6d> |
Stop 12722_3901ae-5e> |
The following are some example sentences where the word “dejar” is used conjugated in each verb:
- “Yo dejo el helado cuando me empalago.” – I leave the ice cream when I get sick.
- “Si dejas a Cristina, ella se arrepentirá de quererte.” – If you leave Cristina, she will regret loving you.
- “Él deja la fiesta cuando se siente borracho.” – He leaves the party when he feels drunk.
QUICK NOTE…
The word “dejar” by itself can have the meaning of “leave” in English, but in Spanish, it can perfectly be replaced by “parar” which means “stop”.
On the other hand, the following are example sentences where the expression “dejar de” is used:
- “Si yo dejo de producir dinero, no comeremos hoy.” – If I stop producing money, we won’t eat today.
- “Si tu no dejas de decirme que me amas, yo siempre te amaré.” – If you don’t stop telling me that you love me, I will always love you.
- “Cada vez que él deja de sonreír, me preocupo.” – Every time he stops smiling, I worry.
Wrapping up
As you can see, expanding your Spanish Vocabulary to include the many ways to say “stop” in Spanish enriches your language skills and makes practicing more interesting. As with almost every verb in Spanish, learning the correct pronoun conjugations is necessary to avoid mistakes. Although this might seem challenging at first, with consistent practice, you’ll find that memorizing the conjugations becomes easier, especially since ‘parar‘ is a regular verb.
Speaking of nouns, there are also several related to the concept of “stop” mainly tied to the verb “to stop”, such as “parada”, “paradero”, “paro”, and more. Exploring these various terms will add depth to your understanding and use of Spanish.
Did you like this article? If so, there is no doubt that you can learn more Spanish in an interesting and fun way with SpanishVIP, where, for having come this far, we offer you a free Spanish lesson or have a 7-day trial in our group classes so that you learn many more words in Spanish and the context in which they are used. Do not miss this opportunity, greetings!