Which phrase is commonly used to signal someone to stop in Spanish?

Which phrase is commonly used to signal someone to stop in Spanish?

• A. Alto
• B. Detente
• C. Parar
• D. Stop

Answer: (A)

Alto is the direct, widely understood way to signal someone to stop in Spanish. It works as a concise command and is instantly recognizable on road signs and in spoken commands, making it the most reliable option for stopping signals across Spanish-speaking contexts. Detente exists as a valid imperative, but it’s less common in everyday traffic or signage and can carry a slightly more formal or forceful tone. Parar is a verb meaning to stop, so it isn’t used by itself as a simple stand-alone stop signal (you’d expect forms like para or paráte in different targets). Stop is English, not Spanish, so it wouldn’t be appropriate in a Spanish-only context. So, Alto stands out as the standard, clear signal to stop.

Alto is the direct, widely understood way to signal someone to stop in Spanish. It works as a concise command and is instantly recognizable on road signs and in spoken commands, making it the most reliable option for stopping signals across Spanish-speaking contexts.

Detente exists as a valid imperative, but it’s less common in everyday traffic or signage and can carry a slightly more formal or forceful tone. Parar is a verb meaning to stop, so it isn’t used by itself as a simple stand-alone stop signal (you’d expect forms like para or paráte in different targets). Stop is English, not Spanish, so it wouldn’t be appropriate in a Spanish-only context.

So, Alto stands out as the standard, clear signal to stop.