How to Say “Stop” in Dutch

Ways to say it

The verb is used to express the concept of not continuing an action or process. Related nouns include stopper, a device used to block a moving object and stop or pauze, which refer to an interruption of travel.

Which one should you use?

stoppen is used for a physical action or a process coming to an end, such as a machine stopping or a person stopping walking. In contrast, ophouden is used for an activity, habit or state that ceases, such as a noise stopping or someone stopping a bad habit.

Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?

To tell someone to stop an action colloquially, you can use kappen (meaning 'stop it' or 'cut it out'). For an informal way to say 'stop it', use Hou op.

Related words

Device to block a moving object (noun): stopper.

Interruption of travel (noun): stop, pauze.

How does it change in a sentence?

The verb stoppen has the past tense form stopte and the past participle gestopt. The verb ophouden has the past tense form ophield and the past participle opgehouden.

How do you pronounce it?

/ˈstɔpə(n)/

What mistakes should you avoid?

English speakers often use stoppen to mean 'to stop something' (transitive), but in Dutch, if you are stopping an activity, ophouden is often more natural.

When do people say it?

If you need to specifically instruct someone to stand still, you can use Sta stil. If you want to ask someone to stop temporarily, you can say Even wachten, which translates to 'wait a moment' or 'hold on'.