How do you say 'stop' in Spanish?

The main options are parar (general stop), detener (halt forcefully or formally), dejar de + infinitive (stop doing something), and ¡alto! (the traffic sign and police command). Each targets a different shade of stopping.

What does the stop sign say in Spanish-speaking countries?

Most Spanish-speaking countries use either ALTO or PARE on stop signs. Mexico uses ALTO, while much of South America uses PARE. Spain uses STOP (the English word) on its standard road signs per European convention.

How do you say 'bus stop' in Spanish?

A bus stop is una parada de autobús (from parar = to stop). In Mexico you might hear parada de camión, and in Argentina parada de colectivo — the word parada is consistent, but the bus itself changes names regionally.

Spanish vocabulary · Beginner

Stop in Spanish: Parar, Detener, Dejar De

Written by Sofia Ramirez, Lead Spanish Curriculum Editor · Reviewed May 2026

Parar · verb / interjection · pah-RAHR

Stop has multiple translations in Spanish: parar for general stopping, detener for halting something or someone forcefully, dejar de for stopping an ongoing activity, and ¡alto! as the command on traffic signs and from authorities.

pah-RAHR / deh-teh-NEHR / deh-HAHR deh

¡Para! Te vas a hacer daño.

Stop! You're going to hurt yourself.

Stop in Spanish: Quick Reference

Below are the most common Spanish words for stop, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.

Spanish	English	Pronunciation	Region / Register
parar	stop	pah-RAHR	Default, widely understood
detener	stop		to stop or halt (more formal)
dejar de	stop		to stop doing something
alto	stop		stop! (command at traffic signs)

How Native Speakers Use Parar

Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.

Urgent command

¡Deténgase! Está entrando en una zona restringida.

Stop! You are entering a restricted zone.

Formal command from security or police.

Quitting a habit

Necesito dejar de comer tanta azúcar.

I need to stop eating so much sugar.

Dejar de + infinitive for ceasing an activity.

Traffic

El coche se paró justo antes del cruce peatonal.

The car stopped right before the crosswalk.

Pararse for coming to a halt.

Avoid These Mistakes When Using Parar

Using parar for quitting an activity

Incorrect: Voy a parar de fumar.

Correct: Voy a dejar de fumar.

For stopping an ongoing activity or habit, Spanish uses dejar de + infinitive — parar de exists but sounds less natural than dejar de in most regions.

Confusing detener with sostener

Incorrect: La policía sostuvo al sospechoso.

Correct: La policía detuvo al sospechoso.

Detener means to stop or detain someone, while sostener means to hold or support something — mixing them changes the meaning from stopped to held up.

Lock in Stop Vocabulary with the Parrot Method

Why word lists alone don't stick

Memorizing a translation feels productive, but most learners forget 70% of what they studied within 48 hours. Vocabulary needs spaced repetition AND real-world exposure to transfer to long-term memory.

See Parar used by native speakers

Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using parar in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear ¡Para! Te vas a hacer daño. while watching someone live the moment, connecting meaning, sound, and rhythm at once.

Save, review, repeat, stay consistent

Tap any word to save it. Parrot's spaced-repetition system surfaces it right before you'd forget, no manual flashcard creation. The watch, parrot back, save, review cycle turns recognition into fluency at 2.7x the speed of traditional study.

Common Questions About Stop in Spanish

How do you say 'stop' in Spanish?: The main options are parar (general stop), detener (halt forcefully or formally), dejar de + infinitive (stop doing something), and ¡alto! (the traffic sign and police command). Each targets a different shade of stopping.
What does the stop sign say in Spanish-speaking countries?: Most Spanish-speaking countries use either ALTO or PARE on stop signs. Mexico uses ALTO, while much of South America uses PARE. Spain uses STOP (the English word) on its standard road signs per European convention.
How do you say 'bus stop' in Spanish?: A bus stop is una parada de autobús (from parar = to stop). In Mexico you might hear parada de camión, and in Argentina parada de colectivo — the word parada is consistent, but the bus itself changes names regionally.