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"Dejar" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "to leave", and "parar" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "to stop". Learn more about the difference between "dejar" and "parar" below.
dejar(
deh
-
hahr
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
1. (to put)
a. to leave
Dejé la llave en tu buzón, como me pediste que hiciera.I left the key in your mailbox, as you asked me to do.
Deja el libro en la mesa cuando acabes de leerlo.Leave the book on the table when you are finished reading it.
2. (to forget)
a. to leave
Dejaste el celular en mi casa. ¿No te habías dado cuenta?You left your cell phone at my place. Haven't you noticed?
3. (to abandon)
a. to leave
Su tío no tenía hijos y, cuando murió, le dejó todo a ella.Her uncle didn't have any children, and when he died, he left everything to her.
a. to leave
Marga anda muy despistada últimamente. Hoy dejó el grifo del lavabo abierto.Marga has been very distracted lately. She left the sink tap running today.
6. (transport)
a. to drop
¿Quieres que te lleve hasta la puerta? - No, hay mucho tráfico y no hace falta, me puedes dejar aquí mismo.Do you want me to take you to the door? - No, there's a lot of traffic, and it's not necessary. You can drop me right here.
7. (to allow)
a. to let
Déjame terminar esta tarea y nos vamos.Let me finish this homework and we can go.
¿Vas a dejar que acabe de hablar?Would you let me finish talking?
dejarse
A reflexive verb is a verb that indicates that the subject performs an action on itself (e.g., Miguel se lava.).
b. to allow oneself
No puedo creer que se dejara engañar así.I can't believe that he allowed himself to be tricked like that.
a. to let oneself go
Es fácil dejarse cuando se está deprimido.It is easy to let yourself go when you're depressed.
A pronominal verb always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g., Te ves cansado.).
11. (to forget)
a. to leave
Me dejé las llaves del carro en casa. Tengo que volver.I left my car keys at home. I have to go back.
a. to grow
Ayer vi a Ismael. Al principio no lo reconocí. Se ha dejado barba.I saw Ismael yesterday. I didn't recognize him at first. He's grown a beard.
parar(
pah
-
rahr
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
1. (to halt)
a. to stop
¡Paren el tráfico! Alguien está tirado en la calle.Stop the traffic! Someone's lying in the road.
2. (to block)
a. to save
Fabianski paró el balón, evitando un gol de Muller.Fabianski saved the ball, blocking a goal by Muller.
b. to stop
El portero paró el tiro libre y ganó el partido.The goalkeeper stopped the free kick and won the game.
c. to intercept
García lanzó el balón y Hernández lo paró.García kicked the ball and Hernandez intercepted it.
3. (to avoid)
a. to block
El defensa logró parar el ataque del delantero.The defender managed to block the striker's attack.
b. to ward off
El boxeador logró parar varios golpes, pero al final su contrincante lo tumbó.The boxer managed to ward off several blows, but in the end his opponent knocked him down.
c. to parry
Estamos aprendiendo a parar en las clases de esgrima.We're learning how to parry in our fencing classes.
4. (to erect) (Latin America)
Regionalism used in Latin America: all the countries in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Does not include Spain.
a. to stand up
Paren el muñeco en la mesa para terminar de arreglarle el traje.Stand the doll up on the table so I can finish fixing its outfit.
b. to raise
Paren el librero allí cerca de esa pared, por favor.Raise the bookshelf over there by that wall, please.
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
5. (to halt)
6. (to cease)
a. to stop
¡Por favor, para de cantar! ¿No ves que estoy estudiando?Please stop singing! Can't you see I'm studying?
8. (to strike) (Latin America)
Regionalism used in Latin America: all the countries in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Does not include Spain.
a. to go on strike
El sindicato ha dicho que paran el martes.The union said to go on strike on Tuesday.
9. (to lodge)
a. to stay
La pareja dijo que planean parar en Madrid por tres noches.The couple said they plan to stay in Madrid for three nights.
10. (colloquial) (to spend time with; used with "con") (South America)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in South America: Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, and Venezuela
a. to hang out (colloquial)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Miguel dijo que iba a parar con Ronaldo este viernes.Miguel said he was going to hang out with Ronaldo this Friday.
pararse
A reflexive verb is a verb that indicates that the subject performs an action on itself (e.g., Miguel se lava.).
11. (to halt)
a. to stop
Siempre se para a saludarnos cuando nos ve.She always stops to say hello when she sees us.
12. (to rise) (Latin America)
Regionalism used in Latin America: all the countries in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Does not include Spain.
a. to stand up
El público se paró cuando terminó el pianista.The audience stood up when the pianist finished.
b. to get up (from bed) (Central America) (Mexico)
Regionalism used in Central America: Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama
Regionalism used in Mexico
Siempre se para tarde los fines de semana.He always gets up late on weekends.
A pronominal verb always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g., Te ves cansado.).
13. (to stick up)
a. to stand on end
Se te parará el pelo con esa película.That movie will make your hair stand on end.
a. to stop
El carro se paró porque le falta aceite al motor.The car stopped because the engine needs oil.
