Whether you’re trying to halt a conversation, stop a car, or just yell “Enough!”, knowing how to say stop in Spanish can be incredibly useful.
But here’s the thing—Spanish doesn’t have just one word for stop. It depends on the situation, tone, and even which Spanish-speaking country you’re in. Want to sound fluent and confident when asking someone to stop?
Say Stop in Spanish
Here’s a 15-phrases table for different ways to say stop in Spanish, with English meaning, Spanish phrase, and usage:
| # | English Phrase | Spanish Phrase | Usage / Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stop! | ¡Alto! | Common on street signs, commands |
| 2 | Stop! | ¡Para! | Direct, casual command |
| 3 | Stop (formal) | Deténgase | Polite or formal situations |
| 4 | Stop it | Déjalo | Casual, telling someone to quit |
| 5 | Stop doing that | Deja de hacer eso | Everyday use |
| 6 | Stop talking | Deja de hablar | Informal, with friends |
| 7 | Stop running | Deja de correr | Instructional |
| 8 | Stop here | Pare aquí | Directions (e.g., taxi, bus) |
| 9 | Stop now | Para ahora | Urgent command |
| 10 | Stop, please | Por favor, detente | Polite request |
| 11 | Stop right there | Detente ahí mismo | Strong, urgent |
| 12 | Stop fighting | Dejen de pelear | Addressing more than one person |
| 13 | Stop shouting | Deja de gritar | Everyday situations |
| 14 | Stop moving | No te muevas | Serious/urgent |
| 15 | Enough! / Stop! | ¡Basta! | Common, strong command |
Let’s break down 15 of the most common and culturally relevant ways to say “stop” in Spanish—complete with conversation examples and the origin or usage behind each expression.
1. ¡Alto! – “Stop!” (used for commands or traffic)
Origin:
“Alto” literally means “high” or “tall,” but in Latin America, it’s also widely used on STOP signs and in traffic instructions.
Example:
👤 User A: ¡Alto! Hay un coche viniendo.
👤 User B: ¡Uy! No lo vi, gracias.
Use: Formal or commanding; often used in emergencies or signs.
2. ¡Para! – “Stop!” (from the verb parar)
Origin:
From the verb parar, meaning “to stop.” It’s commonly used across all Spanish-speaking countries for both physical and verbal actions.
Example:
👤 User A: ¡Para! Me estás haciendo cosquillas.
👤 User B: Jajaja, está bien.
Use: General; often used with people you know.
3. ¡Detente! – “Stop yourself!”
Origin:
From the reflexive form of detener, meaning “to detain” or “to stop oneself.” Often used in serious or dramatic situations.
Example:
👤 User A: ¡Detente! No lo hagas.
👤 User B: Está bien… no lo haré.
Use: More emotional or urgent; often dramatic.
4. ¡Basta! – “Enough!”
Origin:
A strong expression meaning “That’s enough!” Widely used in family, school, or heated conversations.
Example:
👤 User A: ¡Basta! No quiero escucharte más.
👤 User B: Lo siento… me pasé.
Use: Strong, emotional; often to shut down a conversation or behavior.
5. ¡Déjalo! – “Leave it / Stop it”
Origin:
From the verb dejar (“to leave”), this means “leave it alone” or “stop doing that.”
Example:
👤 User A: ¡Déjalo ya, por favor!
👤 User B: OK, ya no lo toco.
Use: Informal; used when someone is messing with something or someone.
6. ¡No más! – “No more!”
Origin:
A literal and powerful way of saying “Stop!” by saying “No more.” Used across all Latin America.
Example:
👤 User A: ¡No más gritos!
👤 User B: Lo siento… estaba frustrado.
Use: Very emotional or forceful.
7. ¡Paren! – “Stop, you all!”
Origin:
Plural form of parar. In Latin America, especially Argentina or Mexico, it’s used when addressing a group.
Example:
👤 User A: ¡Paren de correr en el pasillo!
👤 User B: Perdón, profe.
Use: Plural; formal or school context.
8. ¡Deténganse! – “All of you, stop yourselves!”
Origin:
Plural reflexive form of detener. Sounds serious or police-like.
Example:
👤 User A: ¡Deténganse o llamaré a la policía!
👤 User B: Tranquilo, ya nos vamos.
Use: Commanding or formal; can sound dramatic.
9. ¡Cálmate! / ¡Cálmense! – “Calm down!”
Origin:
Though not a direct translation, calming someone down often implies they need to stop doing something.
Example:
👤 User A: ¡Cálmate! Solo fue un error.
👤 User B: Tienes razón… me alteré.
Use: When someone’s angry, anxious, or overreacting.
10. ¡Quieto! / ¡Quietos! – “Freeze! Stay still!”
Origin:
Common with dogs, kids, or in law enforcement. Literally means “still” or “motionless.”
Example:
👤 User A: ¡Quieto! No te muevas.
👤 User B: ¿Qué pasa?
Use: Physical stopping, often urgent.
11. ¡Ya basta! – “Enough already!”
Origin:
Combining ya (“already”) and basta, this is a firmer, more annoyed version of “Stop it!”
Example:
👤 User A: ¡Ya basta! Estoy cansada de tus excusas.
👤 User B: OK, ya no diré nada más.
Use: Frustrated or emotional tone.
12. ¡No lo hagas! – “Don’t do it!”
Origin:
More preventive than reactive; used to stop someone from acting.
Example:
👤 User A: ¡No lo hagas, podrías arrepentirte!
👤 User B: Tienes razón…
Use: When stopping someone from taking action.
13. ¡Alto ahí! – “Stop right there!”
Origin:
Often used by police, military, or in movies. Adds emphasis with ahí (“there”).
Example:
👤 User A: ¡Alto ahí! No puedes pasar.
👤 User B: Sólo quiero hablar…
Use: Dramatic or serious situations.
14. ¡Detenlo! / ¡Deténlo! – “Stop him/it!”
Origin:
Used to stop another person or thing. From detener again.
Example:
👤 User A: ¡Deténlo! Va a escapar.
👤 User B: ¡Voy!
Use: Action-focused, often urgent.
15. ¡Párate! – “Stop walking / Stand still”
Origin:
From pararse (“to stand up” or “to stop walking”). Common in Latin America for telling someone to stop moving.
Example:
👤 User A: ¡Párate ahí! Te dije que no pasaras.
👤 User B: Perdón… me distraje.
Use: Used to stop motion or movement, especially with kids.
Conclusion:
Learning how to say stop in Spanish is more than just memorizing one word. From “alto” and “para” to regional variations, each expression fits a specific context.
By understanding when and how to use them, you’ll communicate more clearly, sound more natural, and handle real-life situations with confidence.
