Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| dejar de | /dexaɾ de/ (from spelling rules) |
| parar de | /paɾaɾ de/ (from spelling rules) |
The phrases are used to express the cessation of an action. You can also use the word Alto to command someone to halt or stop. Related nouns include parada or paradero, which refer to a place to get on or off mass transport and punto or punto final, which refer to a punctuation symbol.
Which one should you use?
Dejar de often implies a more permanent cessation or the abandonment of a habit. In contrast, parar de is frequently used when an ongoing process or movement is temporarily interrupted or paused.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In urban areas such as Mexico City, the word Alto may be used to indicate that someone should stop their actions.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
Both dejar de and parar de are followed by an infinitive when you are expressing the cessation of an action. However, use parar without the de when you mean to stop a physical movement or a machine, for example, a car stopping.
How do you pronounce it?
/dexaɾ de/
Did you know?
- In early Old Spanish, the word dejar was written as lexar and started with the letter l.
- The word Alto is used on stop signs across many Spanish-speaking countries to command drivers to halt.
Examples in context
- Debes dejar de jugar.You need to stop playing.The sentence demonstrates the use of dejar de to express stopping a habit or action.Tatoeba #1205369 by cueyayotl, translation #1205344 by Eldad
- No pude parar de reír.I couldn't stop laughing.The sentence shows how to use parar de to describe an interrupted continuous action.Tatoeba #1562175 by marcelostockle, translation #461180 by jeanne
- ¿Vas a parar de hablar?Will you stop talking?The sentence illustrates the use of parar de regarding an ongoing process.Tatoeba #972488 by hayastan, translation #326571 by CK
- Disculpe, señor. ¿Podría detenerse, por favor?Excuse me, señor. Could you please stop?
- Oye, ¿puedes parar un momento?Hey, can you stop for a moment?
- ¡Ya basta! ¡Deja de hacerme cosquillas!Okay, okay, that's enough! Stop tickling me!
- 152 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Alejandro and María are talking about a bad habit.
- AlejandroTengo que dejar de fumar pronto.I have to stop smoking soon.
- MaríaEso es muy bueno para tu salud.That is very good for your health.
- AlejandroPero es difícil dejar de hacerlo.But it is difficult to stop doing it.
- MaríaPuedes lograrlo, Alejandro.You can do it, Alejandro.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “stop” translations, 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 de, dejar, parar, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
