Arrêtons

Arrêtons is a French verb form that can function in two related ways. It is the first-person plural present indicative form of the verb arrêter, meaning “we stop” or “we are stopping.” It is also the imperative form used to issue a group directive meaning “let’s stop.” The spelling is the same for both, with context and punctuation determining the mood.

As a present tense form, arrêtons appears in sentences like Nous arrêtons le travail pour aujourd’hui. In its imperative sense, Arrêtons is used to rally a group to halt an action, as in Arrêtons de parler. The form can pair with various complements, including direct objects (arrêter quelque chose) or with de + infinitive to stop doing something (arrêter de faire qqch).

Usage notes and common phrases include idioms and slogans such as arrêtez les frais (stop wasting resources; a fixed expression), arrêtons la violence (let’s stop the violence), or Arrêtons de discuter et prenons une décision (let’s stop discussing and make a decision). In written French, the imperative form Arrêtons often appears in speeches, campaigns, or calls to action, while the present indicative Nous arrêtons can appear in descriptive statements about ongoing actions.

Pronunciation is typically rendered as [a.ʁe.tɔ̃]. The accent on the ê signals the open e in the stem, and the final nasal indicates the typical French ending for the 1st person plural present form and imperative. Overall, arrêtons is a versatile, commonly encountered form used to express collective action to halt an activity.