Hazme el paro
/AHS-meh el PAH-roh/
An informal way to ask for a favor, help, or support, especially in an urgent situation.
💡 Understanding the Idiom
🎨 Literal vs. Figurative
Literally, it translates to 'Do me the stop,' which doesn't make much sense.
In reality, it's a very common way to say 'Help me out' or 'Do me a favor'.
Key Words in This Idiom:
📝 In Action
¡Hazme el paro! Olvidé mi cartera y no puedo pagar el café.
B1Help me out! I forgot my wallet and can't pay for the coffee.
Voy a llegar tarde. ¿Me haces el paro y le dices al jefe que tuve un problema con el coche?
B1I'm going to be late. Can you cover for me and tell the boss I had car trouble?
Le hice el paro a mi vecino y cuidé a su perro el fin de semana.
B2I did my neighbor a favor and watched his dog over the weekend.
📜 Origin Story
The exact origin is a bit fuzzy, but the most popular idea is that 'paro' here doesn't mean 'stop' or 'unemployment'. Instead, it comes from the verb 'parar' in its sense of 'to prop up' or 'to support'. When you ask someone 'hazme el paro', you're essentially asking them to be your support, to prop you up in a difficult moment, or to stop a bad situation from getting worse for you.
⭐ Usage Tips
Your Go-To for Informal Favors
This is the classic, everyday way to ask for a favor among friends, family, and colleagues in Mexico. It's much more common and casual than the more textbook phrase 'hazme un favor'.
Use It For Small, Immediate Needs
This phrase often has a sense of immediacy. You're not asking someone to help you move next month; you're asking for a small bit of help right now, like covering you for lunch or lending you a pen.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing it with 'Unemployment'
Mistake: "Thinking 'paro' always means unemployment, which is its primary meaning in Spain."
Correction: In Mexico and in this specific phrase, 'paro' means 'favor' or 'help'. The context of asking for something makes it clear. If you use this in Spain, people will be very confused!
Using It in Formal Settings
Mistake: "Asking your new boss, an elderly stranger, or a university professor, '¿Me hace el paro?'"
Correction: This is strictly informal. In formal situations, it's better to stick with '¿Podría hacerme un favor?' (Could you do me a favor?) or '¿Podría ayudarme?' (Could you help me?).
🌎 Where It's Used
Mexico
Extremely common. This is a hallmark of informal Mexican Spanish and is used and understood by everyone.
Spain
Not used. This phrase will cause confusion, as 'paro' almost exclusively means 'unemployment'. They would use 'hazme un favor'.
Other parts of Latin America
Its usage varies. It might be understood in some Central American countries due to proximity to Mexico, but it's not a standard phrase in South America. Phrases like 'haceme la gauchada' (Argentina) or simply 'hazme un favor' are more common elsewhere.
🔗 Related Idioms
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: Hazme el paro
Question 1 of 1
If your Mexican friend says 'Hazme el paro con la cuenta', what are they asking?
🏷️ Tags
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use 'hacer el paro' for other people, not just asking for myself?
Yes, absolutely! It works like a regular verb phrase. You can say 'Le hice el paro a mi hermano' (I did my brother a favor) or 'Ellos siempre nos hacen el paro' (They always help us out).
Is 'hazme el paro' rude?
Not at all, as long as it's used in an informal context with people you know. It's a friendly, casual expression. Using it with a stranger might be seen as overly familiar, but not necessarily rude.