paráis

Paráis is a Spanish word that primarily functions as a verb form. It is the second-person plural imperative of the verb "parar," meaning to stop, to halt, or to cease. Therefore, "paráis" is used to command a group of people (you all) to stop doing something.

For example, if someone is running and another person wants them to stop, they might shout "¡Paráis!" to address multiple people. The verb "parar" also has other meanings, such as to stay or to last, but in its imperative form "paráis," the sense of stopping is most common.

The use of "paráis" is specific to the vosotros form of address, which is prevalent in Spain but not typically used in Latin America, where other imperative forms would be employed. The verb "parar" itself is quite versatile and appears in numerous idiomatic expressions in Spanish, though the imperative "paráis" is a direct command. Understanding its grammatical context is key to correctly interpreting its meaning in a sentence.