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A simple storybook illustration of a man wearing a red shirt and blue pants. He was running but is now standing perfectly still on a dirt path, illustrating that his movement has ceased.

paró

pah-ROH

Verb (Past Tense Form)A1regular ar
He stopped?Completed action,She stopped?Completed action,It stopped?Completed action
Also:He halted?Formal or military context,You stopped (formal)?Referring to 'usted'

Quick Reference

infinitiveparar
past Participleparado
gerundparando

📝 In Action

El tren paró de repente en medio del campo.

A1

The train stopped suddenly in the middle of the field.

Ella paró la pelota con el pecho.

A2

She stopped the ball with her chest.

¿Por qué paró usted la reunión tan pronto?

B1

Why did you (formal) stop the meeting so early?

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • detuvo (stopped/detained)
  • cesó (ceased)

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • paró el motor – he/she stopped the engine
  • paró en seco – he/she stopped abruptly

Idioms & Expressions

  • parar el tráfico – to stop everything/to draw all attention

💡 Grammar Points

The Simple Past (Preterite)

The form 'paró' tells you that the action of stopping happened once and finished completely in the past. It is used for 'él' (he), 'ella' (she), and 'usted' (formal you).

The Essential Accent Mark

The accent mark on the 'ó' is mandatory! Without it, 'paro' means 'I stop' (present tense) or the noun 'unemployment.' The accent helps you hear and say the past action correctly.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Mixing up 'Paró' and 'Se Paró'

Mistake: "Using 'Se paró' when meaning 'it stopped' (e.g., *El bus se paró*)."

Correction: Use 'paró' for a simple stop (The bus stopped: *El bus paró*). 'Se paró' usually means 'he/she/it stood up' or 'got up' (e.g., *Él se paró de la silla*).

⭐ Usage Tips

Simple Intransitive Use

When something stops moving by itself (like a car or a clock), use 'paró' directly: 'El reloj paró' (The clock stopped).

Transitive Use (Stopping Something Else)

When someone stops an object, 'paró' takes a direct object: 'El policía paró el coche' (The police officer stopped the car).

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: paró

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence correctly uses 'paró' to mean 'stopped'?

📚 More Resources

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'paró' an irregular verb form?

No, 'paró' is a regular conjugation of the -ar verb 'parar' in the simple past tense (preterite). All regular -ar verbs follow this pattern: infinitive minus -ar, plus -ó for 'él/ella/usted'.

How do I know if 'paró' means 'stopped' or 'stood up'?

It depends heavily on the region and the context. If you are talking about vehicles or activity, it almost always means 'stopped.' If you are talking about a person moving from sitting to standing, Spanish speakers often use the reflexive 'se paró' (he/she stood up).