Learning how to say stop in German comes in handy in various situations you might find yourself in when communicating with native speakers. Are they speaking too fast, and you need them to give you a second to catch up? Or maybe you want to ask them where the next bus stop is? Moreover, being able to interpret a stop sign correctly can save lives. Show
These are just some examples of the many situations when you might be looking for ways to say stop in German. We will explain all the essential translations of this word and show you its correct usage. Our German Frequency Dictionaries are a great source if you are looking for new ways to boost your fluency in German. We have carefully selected 10,000 most common words in German and listed them by frequency and alphabet. Learning new vocabulary through frequency is the fastest way to fluency! Moreover, you will also get 10,000 example sentences, which is a great reading practice! In this case, it isn’t possible to find one simple translation of this word. Which translation to choose depends on many factors. Stop! As a CommandYou use it when you want the other person(s) not to continue doing what they are doing. In German, you would use the interjection halt (pronounced [halt] in the IPA transcription).
If you like movies set in World War II, you have probably heard German soldiers say halt more than once, e.g. Halt, oder ich schieße. – Stop, or I will shoot! Another Meaning of “halt” in GermanAs we have already said, halt is one of the most common ways to say stop in German. However, in Southern Germany and Austria, it also means “just” or “well.”
This usage is informal but still quite common, so don’t forget that halt can have different meanings. It can also be a form of the verb halten – to hold, which in turn can form other verbs with separable prefixes, such as anhalten or aufhalten (they both mean “to stop"). More about that later! Halt vs. Stopp; What Is the Difference?Stopp is a colloquial synonym for halt. Its pronunciation is [ʃtɔp]. It is considered an interjection, but it is basically an imperative form of the verb stoppen – to stop. Let’s see a few examples!
How to Say “to Stop” in GermanThe English verb can be used in a variety of situations, such as
The example sentences above show us that there are various possible translations of the verb depending on the context. Let’s explain the usage of the most common ones. How to Translate AufhörenThe most important meaning of this verb is to “stop doing something.” Don’t let the root “hören” confuse you as it means “to hear.” This is one of the cases when the prefix totally changes the meaning of the verb. TIP: Don’t ignore the little words at the end of the sentence as they can often change the meaning of the whole sentence!
Let’s take a look at some more example sentences with aufhören.
Difference Between Aufhören and AnhaltenYou can usually translate both verbs as “to stop” into English. However, they are used in different contexts. To put it simply:
Deswegen habe ich als Lehrer aufgehört. – That’s why I quit teaching.
Er wurde von drei Polizeiautos angehalten. – He was stopped by three police cars. Wir haben an einer Tankstelle angehalten. – We stopped at a gas station. Anhalten is often used when talking about stopping somewhere, such as Der Wagen hielt vor dem Haus an. – The car stopped in front of the house. Interestingly, anhaltencan also mean “to continue.” In this case, it is more related to the meaning of the basic verb halten – to hold.
How to Use Aufhalten in the Meaning “to Stop” in GermanSo, we have had aufhören and anhalten, and what about aufhalten? Yes, it can also mean “to stop!” It is suitable in situations when you refer to stopping someone or something, such as
Don’t forget that aufhalten can also be translated as “to hold open.” Du musst den Vorhang aufhalten, damit es herausfliegen kann. means “You have to hold the curtain open so it can fly out.” Other Verbs Meaning “to Stop” in GermanThe list of the verbs you can use to translate “to stop” seems endless. Just try looking it up in a dictionary. Let’s sum up the most important ones (except for the verbs discussed above) together with an example sentence.
Stop as a NounWe have seen that we must remember several verbs to translate this simple word correctly in various contexts. Unfortunately, the same applies to nouns. Below is a list of the most common translations of stop as a noun into German (together with an example sentence to demonstrate its usage).
If you want to improve your level of German, take a look at our unique German Frequency Dictionary series. You will learn the most common words (listed by frequency and alphabet!), which will help you understand 98% of all daily spoken German. We have carefully selected 10,000 example sentences and translated them into English. It will make it easier for you to learn new vocabulary and grammatical structures naturally through context. One Last Quick TipIn today’s article, we have shown you many ways to say stop in German. As you can see, it isn’t always simple to choose the right translation. It helps to learn new vocabulary through context. Don’t rely on memorizing individual words! Also, if you read in German, don’t forget to check the end of the sentence for any separable prefixes. This way, you won’t get confused over e.g. hören (to hear) and aufhören (to stop). If you have any questions, let us know in the comments below. We will be more than happy to answer! Does Achtung mean in German?Achtung, a German word meaning "attention"
Is the word halt German?According to the Duden, this halt has its origin in the Mid High German word halt, which means “more” or “rather.” Connected to this, possible translations for halt are “just” or “simply.” In German, halt is usually used to give more emphasis to what you're saying.
How do you pause in German?Unterbrechung einer Tätigkeit. Pause → break; pause;. Schule: Unterbrechung des Unterrichtes. Pause → recess;. What is a common German phrase?10 common German phrases: the basics
From basic German greetings to pleas for help when you get stuck, we've got you covered. Formal: Können Sie mir helfen?; informal: Kannst du mir helfen? (Can you help me?) Formal: Sprechen Sie English?; informal: In Sprichst du Englisch? (Do you speak English?) Einen Moment, bitte.
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