por favor, para
/poɾ faˈboɾ paɾa/word by word
In Spanish, please stop is por favor, para.
The phrase is used as a polite request for someone to cease a current action or behavior.
Which one should you use?
The form por favor, para is used in informal situations. If you need to be formal, you can use Por favor, deténgase, Disculpe, podría detenerse, por favor or Le ruego que pare, por favor. For a very colloquial tone, you might say Oye, deja eso, ¿vale? (Hey, stop that, okay?) or ¡Para ya, por favor! (Stop already, please!).
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico, the phrase Por favor, deja de hacerlo is used to mean Please stop doing it.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form para is the informal singular imperative (tú command) of the verb parar, meaning stop (you).
How do you pronounce it?
/poɾ faˈboɾ paɾa/
Did you know?
- The word para in your phrase can also be a shorthand way to refer to someone in the paramilitar or paramilitary forces in certain contexts.
- In some Latin American countries, saying ¡Para! can be interpreted as 'Stop right there' in a way that sounds like a police command rather than a polite request.
- To ask someone to stop talking, Spanish speakers often use callate or guarda silencio instead of para, as the latter can sound like you are asking them to stop a physical movement.
Examples in context
- Por favor, para de hablar.Please stop talking.This sentence shows how to use por favor, para to ask someone to stop talking.Tatoeba #6712738 by arh, translation #1911970 by Spamster
- Le pedía a ella que, por favor, parara.I asked her to please stop.Tatoeba #10091107 by manufrutos, translation #10070367 by shekitten
- ¡No os emborrachéis y, por favor, parad de usar esos jodidos petardos o mi gato, que es muy malo y está muy enfadado, os arañará a todos!Don't get drunk and, please, stop using those fuckin' bangers or my very bad and angry cat will scratch you all!This sentence uses por favor, para in a highly informal and forceful context.Tatoeba #1332595 by Shishir, translation #1332591 by shekitten
- Si no le importa, por favor, deténgase un momento.If you don't mind, please stop for a moment.
- Disculpe, ¿podría detenerse por favor? Está pisando el césped recién sembrado.Excuse me, could you please stop? You're stepping on the newly planted grass.
- Le ruego que pare por favor, esto es inaceptable.I beg you to stop, please. This is unacceptable.
- Por favor, para de hacer ruido mientras estudio.Please stop making noise while I'm studying.
- Oye, deja eso, ¿vale? No quiero que lo rompas.Hey, stop that, okay? I don't want you to break it.
- ¡Para ya, por favor! Nos vamos a perder el autobús.Stop already, please! We're going to miss the bus.
Example conversation
Alejandro and Elena are studying in the library.
- AlejandroPor favor, para de mover la pierna.Please stop shaking your leg.
- ElenaLo siento, no me había dado cuenta.I'm sorry, I hadn't noticed.
- AlejandroNo pasa nada, pero me distrae mucho.It's okay, but it distracts me a lot.
- ElenaEstá bien, ya no lo haré.All right, I won't do it anymore.
Sources
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (por, favor, para) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries favor, para, por, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
