Inklingo

How to Say "to cease" in Spanish

English → Spanish

parar

/pa-RAR//paˈɾaɾ/

VerbA1General
Use 'parar' when referring to something stopping its movement or activity in a general sense, like a vehicle stopping or rain ceasing.
A bright red toy train sitting motionless on a wooden track, depicting the cessation of movement.

Examples

La lluvia paró y salió el sol.

The rain stopped and the sun came out.

El autobús para en esta esquina.

The bus stops on this corner.

¡Para! Hay un semáforo en rojo.

Stop! There's a red light.

Tienes que parar de hacer tanto ruido.

You have to stop making so much noise.

Stopping an Action

To say you 'stop doing something', use the structure 'parar de' + the action verb. For example, 'Paré de comer' means 'I stopped eating'.

Stopping Yourself vs. Stopping Something Else

Mistake:'Yo paro el coche' vs. 'Yo me paro'

Correction: 'Parar' stops an external object ('I stop the car'). 'Pararse' stops yourself ('I stop').

cesar

VerbB1Formal
Use 'cesar' when something officially stops or is brought to an end, especially in more formal contexts or when referring to ongoing actions or states ceasing.

Examples

Las hostilidades cesaron al amanecer.

The hostilities ceased at dawn.

Choosing Between 'Parar' and 'Cesar'

Learners often confuse 'parar' and 'cesar' because both can mean 'to stop'. Remember that 'parar' is much more common for everyday stops, while 'cesar' is typically used for more official or formal cessations.

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