arrêtez, s'il vous plaît
The English phrase "stop it, please" is translated into French as arrêtez, s'il vous plaît.
This phrase is used to make a polite request for someone to end an action that is annoying or unwanted.
Which one should you use?
You can also use ça suffit, s'il vous plaît to say "that's enough, please", which serves as a slightly more forceful way to ask someone to stop.
Did you know?
- If you are speaking to a single person you know well, you must switch from arrêtez to arrête, as using the 'vous' form with a friend can sound mockingly formal or even sarcastic.
- The root of arrêtez comes from the verb 'arrêter', which is also the word used by police to mean 'to arrest' someone.
- While arrêtez means 'stop', it is also the word used in French sports to describe a goalkeeper's save.
Examples in context
- Veuillez arrêter de bavarder en classe, s'il vous plaît.Please stop talking in class.
- Arrêtez ça, s'il vous plaît, ça gâche notre soirée.Please stop that, it's ruining our evening.
- Arrêtez, s'il vous plaît, ce bruit.Stop that noise, please.
- Arrêtez, s'il vous plaît, de me suivre.Stop following me, please.
- Arrêtez, s'il vous plaît, d'écrire sur les murs.Stop writing on the walls, please.
Example conversation
In a library, a man is tapping his pen loudly.
- LéaArrêtez, s'il vous plaît, ce tapotage.Stop that tapping, please.
- GabrielOh, pardon, je ne m'en rendais pas compte.Oh, sorry, I didn't realize.
- LéaMerci, j'essaie de travailler.Thank you, I am trying to work.
- GabrielJe vous présente mes excuses.I apologize to you.
