How to Say Stop in Spanish
How to say stop in Spanish: 'Para' (PAH-rah) to tell someone to stop, or '¡Alto!' / '¡Pare!' on signs and commands. Pronunciation, formal vs informal and uses.
Published · 2 min read · Free · No sign-up
Quick answer
To tell someone to stop in Spanish, say '¡Para!' (PAH-rah) informally or '¡Pare!' (PAH-reh) formally — both from the verb 'parar' (to stop). On road signs and as a sharp command to halt, Spanish uses '¡Alto!' (AHL-toh) or 'Stop', depending on the country.
Para
/PAH-rah/ — Spanish
How to Say Stop in Spanish
“Stop” can be a gentle request, a firm command, or a word on a sign — and Spanish has a slightly different word for each. The everyday one to know is Para, pronounced PAH-rah.
Telling Someone to Stop: Para / Pare
¡Para! — pronounced PAH-rah (informal) ¡Pare! — pronounced PAH-reh (formal)
Both come from the verb parar (to stop). Use them to tell a person to stop what they’re doing:
- ¡Para! — Stop! (to a friend)
- ¡Pare, por favor! — Stop, please! (formally, e.g. to a taxi driver)
- Para el coche. — Stop the car. (informal)
Copy the Phrase
The Spanish for “stop” (telling someone) is Para (PAH-rah).
Stop on Signs: Alto, Pare & Stop
Road signs vary by country — this often surprises travelers:
| Country/Region | Stop sign reads | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Mexico, Central America | ALTO | AHL-toh |
| Colombia, Argentina, Chile, Venezuela | PARE | PAH-reh |
| Spain | STOP | (the English word) |
Alto literally means “halt” (originally a military command), while Pare is the formal command “stop.” So a Mexican driver halts at an ALTO sign, but a Colombian driver halts at a PARE sign.
All the Ways to Say Stop
| Spanish | Pronunciation | Meaning / Use |
|---|---|---|
| ¡Para! | PAH-rah | Stop! (informal command) |
| ¡Pare! | PAH-reh | Stop! (formal command) |
| ¡Alto! | AHL-toh | Halt! / Stop! (sharp, signs) |
| ¡Basta! | BAHS-tah | Enough! / Stop it! |
| ¡Detente! | deh-TEN-teh | Stop! / Hold it! (informal) |
| ¡Deténgase! | deh-TEN-gah-seh | Stop! (formal) |
| ¡Déjalo! | DEH-hah-loh | Leave it / Stop that! |
| Dejar de | deh-HAR deh | To stop (doing something) |
A useful distinction: parar = to stop moving/an action, while dejar de + verb = to quit doing something (Deja de gritar = stop shouting).
Formal vs. Informal
Spanish commands change with who you’re talking to:
- Informal (tú): Para, Detente, Deja.
- Formal (usted): Pare, Deténgase, Deje.
When addressing a stranger, an elder, or in any polite situation, use the formal Pare (and add por favor).
Pronunciation & Cultural Tips
- The single ‘r’ in para is a quick tongue flap — close to the soft “tt” in American “butter,” not a rolled or hard English R.
- Stress sits on the first syllable: PAH-rah, PAH-reh, AHL-toh.
- Be aware of the look-alike: para also means “for” or “in order to” in ordinary sentences. As a stop command it’s usually said sharply and alone, so confusion is rare.
- For an emphatic “Stop it — enough!”, ¡Basta! (or ¡Basta ya!) is punchy and very common across the Spanish-speaking world.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you say stop in Spanish?
To tell someone to stop, say '¡Para!' (PAH-rah) to someone you address informally, or '¡Pare!' (PAH-reh) formally. Both come from the verb 'parar' (to stop). On signs, 'stop' is '¡Alto!' (AHL-toh) in much of Latin America and 'Stop' or 'Pare' elsewhere.
How do you pronounce Para?
Say it PAH-rah. Both syllables are open and clean, with the stress on the first: PAH-rah. The single 'r' is a light flap of the tongue, similar to the 'tt' in the American English 'butter'.
What is the difference between Para, Alto and Pare?
'Para/Pare' is the spoken command 'stop (doing that)' from 'parar'. '¡Alto!' literally means 'halt' and is the word on stop signs in Mexico and much of Central America. 'Pare' is the stop-sign word in Colombia, Argentina and other countries; Spain uses the English 'Stop'.
What does Para literally mean as a command?
As a command, 'Para' literally means 'stop!' (you, informal). It's the imperative of 'parar'. Note Spanish has an identical-looking word 'para' meaning 'for/in order to' — context tells them apart, since the command is usually said sharply on its own.
How do you say stop it or stop the car in Spanish?
'Stop it!' is '¡Para!' or '¡Basta!' (BAHS-tah, meaning 'enough!'). 'Stop the car' is 'Para el coche' (informal) or 'Pare el coche' (formal). 'Detente' (deh-TEN-teh) is a stronger 'halt/stop yourself', and '¡Déjalo!' means 'leave it / stop that'.