alto
/ˈalto/
The Spanish word for halt is alto.
Alto is often used in traffic situations or when giving a formal order. Other forms exist depending on the setting: Deténgase is commonly used by police officers, military personnel or in official signs, while Cese can be used in legal, bureaucratic or corporate settings.
Meaning: to stop either temporarily or permanently (verb)
Which one should you use?
Deténgase is the formal way to say halt. Detén is an informal command that translates to halt or stop.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, stop might be translated as párate. In some parts of Latin America, pare is used as an alternative to alto or para, especially for traffic signs.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈalto/
Did you know?
- The word alto is a homonym, meaning it can function as a command to 'halt' or as an adjective meaning 'tall' or 'high' depending on the context.
- The Spanish word alto is a 'learned borrowing' from Latin, meaning it was consciously reintroduced into the language by scholars rather than evolving naturally through everyday speech.
Examples in context
- Deténgase. No atraviese la calle ahora.Halt. Don't cross the street now.
- Cese inmediatamente el uso de sus teléfonos móviles.Halt the use of your mobile phones immediately.
- Basta, ya es suficiente, no más travesuras.Halt, that's enough, no more mischief.
Example conversation
A security guard and a visitor are at a checkpoint.
- Javier¡Alto! Necesito ver su identificación, Lucía.Stop! I need to see your identification, Lucía.
- LucíaEstá bien, Javier. Aquí tienes mi carné.That's fine, Javier. Here is my ID.
- JavierGracias. Ahora puede continuar su camino.Thank you. Now you may continue on your way.
- LucíaMuchas gracias por su ayuda.Thank you very much for your help.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry alto, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries alto, CC BY-SA 4.0.
