Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| dejar de | /dexaɾ de/ (from spelling rules) |
| parar de | /paɾaɾ de/ (from spelling rules) |
Both dejar de and parar de are used to express the cessation of an activity. The verb parar can also be used on its own to mean 'to halt' or 'to stop moving', such as when a vehicle comes to a standstill. Related nouns include parada or paradero, which refer to a place to get on and off mass transport and punto or punto final, which refer to a punctuation symbol.
Which one should you use?
The choice between the two forms depends on the nature of the stop. dejar de often implies a more permanent or intentional cessation of a habit or an action. In contrast, parar de often implies a temporary interruption of a continuous motion or sound. If you want to describe a person or vehicle coming to a complete physical standstill, use parar without the de.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
While parar can stand alone to mean 'to halt', dejar de requires an object or an infinitive to complete its meaning.
How do you pronounce it?
/dexaɾ de/
What mistakes should you avoid?
Be careful not to use dejar alone to mean 'to stop an action'. In Spanish, dejar without the de means 'to leave' or 'to let/allow'.
Did you know?
- In some Spanish dialects, parar can be used colloquially to describe hanging out or spending time in a specific place.
- The English word 'laxative' actually shares an ancestral link with the Spanish verb dejar through the Latin 'laxāre'.
Examples in context
- Debes dejar de jugar.You need to stop playing.This sentence is useful for practicing the use of dejar de with an infinitive.Tatoeba #1205369 by cueyayotl, translation #1205344 by Eldad
- No pude parar de reír.I couldn't stop laughing.This sentence shows how to use parar de to describe an inability to stop a continuous action.Tatoeba #1562175 by marcelostockle, translation #461180 by jeanne
- ¿Vas a parar de hablar?Will you stop talking?This sentence demonstrates a question using parar de regarding a continuous action.Tatoeba #972488 by hayastan, translation #326571 by CK
- Por favor, pare el autoPlease stop the car
- Deténgase antes de cruzar la líneaStop before crossing the line
- Solicito el cese inmediato de la obraI request an immediate stop to the construction
- ¡Para! No sigas corriendoStop! Don't keep running
- Déjalo, ya es suficienteStop it, that's enough
- ¡Basta! Deja de molestar a tu hermanaEnough! Stop bothering your sister
- No puedo parar de reírI can't stop laughing
- El tren se detuvo en la estaciónThe train stopped at the station
- Deja de hacer eso, por favorStop doing that, please
- 152 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Elena and Daniel are in a noisy cafe.
- ElenaDaniel, por favor, deja de comer tan rápido.Daniel, please, stop eating so fast.
- DanielLo siento, Elena, es que tengo mucha hambre.I'm sorry, Elena, it's just that I'm very hungry.
- ElenaIntenta dejar de comer con tanta prisa.Try to stop eating in such a hurry.
- DanielEstá bien, trataré de ir más despacio.Okay, I will try to go slower.
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.
