Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| interrumpir | /interumˈpiɾ/ |
| interromper | /interompeɾ/ (from spelling rules) |
The verb interrumpir means to disturb or halt an ongoing process or action. You can also use the related noun interrupción to describe an event that causes a computer to temporarily cease.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico, it is common to use the word permiso to politely interrupt someone.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
interrumpir is a regular -ir verb in most tenses, but it is a stem-changing verb where the 'e' in the stem changes to 'ie' in many conjugations. The first-person singular present indicative form is interrumpo (I interrupt), and the first-person singular preterite form is interrumpí (I interrupted). For the present subjunctive, use the stem interrump- followed by the appropriate endings, such as interrumpa for the first-person singular.
How do you pronounce it?
/interumˈpiɾ/
What mistakes should you avoid?
When the person being interrupted is the object of the sentence, you must use the personal 'a' before the person's name or pronoun, such as in interrumpir a.
Did you know?
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, interrupting is not always viewed as a sign of rudeness. In fast-paced group discussions, 'interjecting' or 'overlapping' is often seen as a way to show active engagement and interest in the topic.
- The root of interrumpir is the Latin verb rumpere, which means 'to break'. In Spanish, the word literally describes the act of 'breaking into' a flow or a sequence.
- If you want to interrupt someone's train of thought or a long speech, you might use the expression cortar (to cut). For example, me cortó la inspiración means 'they cut my inspiration' or 'they interrupted my flow'.
Examples in context
- No quise interrumpir nada.I didn't mean to interrupt anything.This sentence uses interrumpir to show a lack of intent to disturb.Tatoeba #3697434 by marcelostockle, translation #2291177 by CK
- No quiero interrumpir a Tomás.I don't want to interrupt Tom.This sentence uses interrumpir to express a desire not to disturb a specific person.Tatoeba #4769131 by alegarvid, translation #2013905 by CK
- Es grosero interrumpir a los demás.It is rude to interrupt others.This sentence uses interrumpir to describe the rudeness of interrupting others.Tatoeba #2188241 by marcelostockle, translation #269992 by CK
- Disculpe, ¿puedo hacer una pregunta?Excuse me, may I ask a question?
- Perdone, pero tengo algo importante que decir.Pardon me, but I have something important to say.
- Oye, ¿me dejas decir algo?Hey, can I say something?
- Espera, necesito interrumpirte por un momento.Wait, I need to interrupt you for a moment.
- Perdón por la interrupción, ¿puedo agregar algo?Sorry for the interruption, can I add something?
- Permiso, necesito interrumpir un momento.Excuse me, I need to interrupt for a moment.
- Disculpe, ¿puedo agregar algo a la discusión?Excuse me, may I add something to the discussion?
- Perdone mi interrupción, pero creo que hay un malentendido.Pardon my interruption, but I believe there is a misunderstanding.
- Oye, ¿te importa si te interrumpo un momento?Hey, do you mind if I interrupt you for a moment?
- Espera, tengo algo urgente que decirte.Wait, I have something urgent to tell you.
- 16 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Elena and Daniel are talking in a quiet office.
- ElenaPerdón, no quería interrumpir tu trabajo.Sorry, I did not want to interrupt your work.
- DanielNo pasa nada, Elena.It is no problem, Elena.
- Elena¿Puedo interrumpir un momento para hacer una pregunta?Can I interrupt for a moment to ask a question?
- DanielClaro, dime qué necesitas.Sure, tell me what you need.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “interrupt” translations and entries interrumpir, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries interrumpir, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
