para, por favor
/paɾa poɾ faˈboɾ/word by word
In Spanish, "stop please" is expressed as para, por favor.
This phrase is used to make a polite request for someone to cease their current action or movement.
Which one should you use?
para, por favor uses the informal tú command and is appropriate for friends, family or children. In contrast, the form pare, por favor uses the formal usted command.
How does it change in a sentence?
When addressing a single person formally, the imperative form pare is used instead of para. To request that a group of people stop, use the plural form paren, por favor.
How do you pronounce it?
/paɾa poɾ faˈboɾ/
Did you know?
- The word para is a homonym in Spanish, meaning it is identical in spelling and sound to the preposition meaning 'for'.
- In certain contexts, the word para can be a noun referring to a 'paramilitary' group, though this is a completely different usage than the command to stop.
- The word para is an evolved blend of the Latin words prō and ad, which combined into the Old Spanish pora before becoming the modern form.
Examples in context
- Deténgase, por favor. El discurso está comenzando.Stop please. The speech is starting.
- Le ruego que se detenga. No empuje.I beg you to stop. Do not push.
- Detente, por favor. No empujes.Stop please. Do not push.
- Camina más lento o para, por favor.Walk slower or stop, please.
- Para, por favor, que me duele la cabeza.Stop, please, my head hurts.
Example conversation
Lucía and Alejandro are walking in a busy park.
- LucíaAlejandro, para, por favor.Alejandro, stop, please.
- Alejandro¿Por qué, Lucía?Why, Lucía?
- LucíaNecesito descansar un momento.I need to rest for a moment.
- AlejandroEstá bien, nos detenemos aquí.Alright, we'll stop here.
