hacerse a un lado
/aθeɾse a un lado/from spelling rules
The English phrase 'pull over' can be translated into Spanish using hacerse a un lado. Wiktionary also lists orillar and pararse en el hombrillo.
Meaning: come to a stop on the roadside or the hard shoulder (verb)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| hacerse a un lado | /aθeɾse a un lado/ (Spain, from spelling rules) /aseɾse a un lado/ (Latin America, from spelling rules) |
| orillar | /oɾiˈʝaɾ/ |
| pararse en el hombrillo | /paɾaɾse en el ombɾiʝo/ (from spelling rules) |
| detenerse en la banquina | /deteneɾse en la bankina/ (from spelling rules) |
These terms describe the action of bringing a vehicle to a stop on the roadside or the hard shoulder of a road.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase hacerse a un lado literally means 'to make oneself to one side'.
Which one should you use?
Hacerse a un lado is a general way to say move to the side, whereas orillar specifically implies moving toward the edge or curb of a road.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Argentina, the verb used for 'pulling over' is orillarse.
How does it change in a sentence?
Orillar is a transitive verb that can be used reflexively as orillarse to describe the act of pulling the vehicle toward the edge of the road.
How do you pronounce it?
/aθeɾse a un lado/
Did you know?
- The word hombrillo used in the phrase pararse en el hombrillo comes from the diminutive of hombro, which means 'shoulder'. The hard shoulder of a road is literally seen as the 'little shoulder' of the path.
- In Argentina, the term banquina is used for the hard shoulder. This specific word is not used in Spain, where you would instead use arcén.
- While hacerse a un lado is a very common way to say 'pull over', it is also a standard way to tell someone to 'get out of the way' in a crowded space.
Examples in context
- ¿Podría parar el vehículo aquí, por favor?Could you pull over here, please?
- ¿Podés apartarte/orillarte al costado, por favor?Can you pull over to the side, please?
- Oríllate un momento, por favor.Pull over for a moment, please.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “pull over” translations and entries orillar, 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.
