przestań
The English phrase 'stop it' is translated into Polish as przestań.
przestań is used as a command to tell someone to end an annoying or unwanted action. While it can mean to cease a specific action, it is often used as a standalone exclamation to mean 'stop it' when someone is being annoying. You can intensify this command by adding the word już (already) after przestań to create przestań już!, which makes it sound more impatient, similar to 'stop it already' in English.
Which one should you use?
przestań is used for 'stop (it/doing something)', whereas the infinitive form przestać means 'to stop' or 'to cease'. For a more colloquial expression meaning 'Give it a rest!', you can use Daj spokój!
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb has different forms depending on who you are addressing. Use przestańcie when addressing more than one person (plural). If you want to say 'let him/her stop' or 'let it stop' in a command-like sense, use niech przestanie. The infinitive form is przestać.
Did you know?
- While przestań tells someone to stop an action, the word stój is used specifically for physical movement, like telling someone to stop walking.
- The colloquial alternative Daj spokój! literally translates to 'Give peace!', which is a much more metaphorical way of saying 'stop it' than the English equivalent.
- While przestań is a direct command, saying it to an elder or a stranger without an honorific can be perceived as a sudden, sharp social transgression.
Examples in context
- Przestań! Sprawiasz, że czuje się niezręcznie!Stop it! You're making her feel uncomfortable!This example shows how to use przestań to express that someone's behavior is making another person uncomfortable.Tatoeba #3634735 by Katubeltza, translation #1479 by Zifre
- Przestań.Stop it.This is a simple way to use przestań to say 'Stop it.'Tatoeba #5627222 by machmet, translation #2111499 by CK
- Przestań już!Stop it already!This example demonstrates how adding już to przestań makes the command sound more impatient.Tatoeba #5868514 by BeataB, translation #3133255 by Serhiy
- Przestań natychmiast!Stop immediately!
- Przestań pchać!Stop pushing!
- 3 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Małgorzata is teasing Tomasz about a small mistake he made.
- TomaszPrzestań mnie ośmieszać.Stop making me look silly.
- MałgorzataPrzecież tylko żartuję!I'm only joking!
- TomaszNie, przestań.No, stop it.
- MałgorzataDobrze, już nie będę.Okay, I won't anymore.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
