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parar means to stop — a common term in Mexican Slang. Learn how it's used in a real-world example.

📅 Published: August 28, 2025

🌶️ Mexican Slang

parar

verb • /[pah-RAR]/

to stop

Example:

Paré la música fuerte.

I turned off the loud music.

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🧠 What does parar mean?

In Mexican slang, "parar" means "to stop" or "to pay attention." It's often used like "to notice" or "to pay heed." While "parar" in standard Spanish has a broader meaning (like stopping a bus or standing something up), in Mexico, this slang usage is focused on the act of noticing or paying attention to something.

📚 Extra examples

  • ¡Para! ¿Viste ese coche?
    Whoa! Did you see that car?
  • No le paré al ruido.
    I didn't pay attention to the noise.
  • Para tantito, ¿qué dijiste?
    Hold on a second, what did you say?
  • No le pares, está bromeando.
    Don't pay attention to him, he's joking.
  • Para, no te vayas a caer.
    Watch out, you're going to fall.

❓ FAQ

How do you say 'to stop' in Spanish?
While "parar" means to stop, in Mexican slang it's closer to "notice" or "pay attention." In standard Spanish, "detener," "detenerse," and "cesar" are also common ways to say 'to stop.'
How do you pronounce 'parar' in Spanish?
It's pronounced pa-RAR, with the stress on the second syllable. The 'r' is a single tap, not a rolled 'r'.
How do you use 'parar' in a sentence?
In Mexico, you might say "¡Para! ¿Viste eso?" (Whoa! Did you see that?) or "No le paré a lo que dijo." (I didn't pay attention to what he said.)
What is the English translation of 'parar'?
In this Mexican slang context, 'parar' is best translated as 'to notice,' 'to pay attention,' or 'to pay heed.'
Does 'parar' change for gender or number?
The verb 'parar' conjugates regularly, so its form will change depending on the subject (e.g., yo paro, tú paras, él para, etc.).
Is 'parar' common in everyday Spanish?
The standard meaning of 'parar' (to stop) is common. However, the slang usage meaning "to pay attention/notice" is specifically Mexican.
Does 'parar' have slang or double meanings?
Yes, as discussed, in Mexican Spanish it has the slang meaning of 'to notice' or 'to pay attention.'
Is 'parar' used differently in Spain vs Latin America?
The slang usage of 'parar' to mean 'notice/pay attention' is specific to Mexico. In Spain and other parts of Latin America, "parar" is used in its standard sense of 'to stop.'
How do you conjugate 'parar' in Spanish?
Here's the present tense: Yo paro Tú paras Él/Ella/Usted para Nosotros/as paramos Vosotros/as paráis Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes paran

🔁 Synonyms & opposites of "parar"

Synonyms: fijarse, notar, prestar atención
Opposites: ignorar, descuidar

💡 Did You Know?

Using "parar" in this slang way is a great way to sound more natural and fluent in Mexican Spanish. Give it a try!

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