detenerlos
/deh-teh-NEHR-lohs/
to stop them
Detenerlos means to stop them, such as preventing objects from moving further.
detenerlos(verb)
to stop them
?preventing movement or an action
to delay them
?slowing someone down
📝 In Action
No podemos detenerlos ahora; tienen prisa.
A2We can't stop them now; they are in a hurry.
El muro es para detenerlos.
A1The wall is to stop them.
💡 Grammar Points
The 'los' on the end
The 'los' at the end of the word refers to the group of people or things being stopped. It's a shorthand for 'them'.
Verbs like 'Tener'
This word is based on 'detener', which follows the same patterns as the common verb 'tener'. If you know how to conjugate 'tener', you know 'detener'!
❌ Common Pitfalls
Word Order
Mistake: "los detener"
Correction: detenerlos (or 'los quiero detener')
⭐ Usage Tips
Is it for people or things?
You can use this for anything masculine or mixed-gender: 'the cars' (los coches), 'the boys' (los niños), or 'the secrets' (los secretos).
Detenerlos also translates to 'to arrest them' in a legal or police context.
detenerlos(verb)
to arrest them
?police taking suspects into custody
to detain them
?holding people for questioning
📝 In Action
La policía tiene una orden para detenerlos.
B1The police have a warrant to arrest them.
🔄 Conjugations
subjunctive
imperfect
present
indicative
preterite
imperfect
present
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: detenerlos
Question 1 of 2
What does the ending '-los' in 'detenerlos' signify?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use 'detenerlos' for a group of women?
No, if the group is strictly all women, you should use 'detenerlas'. Use 'detenerlos' for all men or a mixed-gender group.
What is the difference between 'pararlos' and 'detenerlos'?
'Pararlos' is the most common way to say 'stop them' in everyday life. 'Detenerlos' is slightly more formal and is often used for physical stopping or legal arrests.