ferma
The Italian word for stop is ferma.
To express the reflexive action of stopping oneself (e.g., 'to stop walking'), use the reflexive form fermarsi. For the general concept of the verb to stop, the infinitive is fermare.
Meaning: not to continue (verb)
Which one should you use?
While ferma is a verb form, fermata is a noun meaning a stop or a station (e.g., a bus stop). If you want to refer to an interruption of travel, you may also use interruzione. For a device designed to block a moving object, use pulsante di arresto.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The infinitive form of the verb is fermare. Use ferma as an informal singular imperative command and fermate as a plural imperative command.
Did you know?
- In Italy, a 'stop' sign is not translated as ferma but uses the English word 'STOP'. It is one of the few English words used officially on Italian road signage nationwide.
- If you want to tell someone to 'stop it' in the sense of 'quit bothering me', Italians rarely use ferma. Instead, they use basta, which literally means 'enough'.
- The word fermare shares an ancestral root with the English word 'firm'. Both trace back to the idea of being fixed, stable, or steady in place.
Examples in context
- È ora di fermarsi.It's time to stop.This sentence uses ferma to express the necessity of stopping.Tatoeba #4515469 by Guybrush88, translation #3820581 by CK
- Non mi ha fermato.That didn't stop me.This sentence uses ferma to show that someone was not stopped.Tatoeba #8102811 by Guybrush88, translation #5754450 by CM
- Non ti fermare qui.Don't stop here.This sentence uses ferma to tell someone not to stop in a specific location.Tatoeba #3515973 by Guybrush88, translation #61893 by CK
- Scusi, potrebbe fermarsi per favore?Excuse me, could you please stop?
- Per favore, fermi tutti e ascoltino le istruzioni.Please, everyone stop and listen to the instructions.
- Basta così, non indugiare.Stop it now, don't delay.
- 1216 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lorenzo and Chiara are driving and he sees a hazard.
- LorenzoFerma la macchina subito!Stop the car right now!
- ChiaraPerché? Cosa è successo?Why? What happened?
- LorenzoC'è un ostacolo sulla strada.There is an obstacle on the road.
- ChiaraVa bene, mi sono fermata.Okay, I have stopped.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ferma, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
