How do you say "I can't stop" in French?

"I can't stop" in French is "Je ne peux pas m'arrêter". This phrase is commonly used in France.

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How to Say ‘I can't stop’ in French

Q: What does "Je ne peux pas m'arrêter" mean in English?

"Je ne peux pas m'arrêter" means "I can't stop" in English. Usage tip: In [m'arrêter], [me] becomes [m'] before a vowel and joins the next word, so it can't stand alone. [S'arrêter] means "to stop oneself / to stop," and with [je] it becomes [je m'arrête].

Je ne peux pas m'arrêter

zhuh nuh puh pah mah ah-reh-tay

[zhuh nuh puh pah mah ah-reh-tay]

💬 Usage Tip: In [m'arrêter], [me] becomes [m'] before a vowel and joins the next word, so it can't stand alone. [S'arrêter] means "to stop oneself / to stop," and with [je] it becomes [je m'arrête].

Phrase Breakdown

[zhuh]

Subject pronoun for the speaker.

Example

Je ne peux pas m'arrêter ici.

I can't stop here.

[nuh]

not

First part of standard French negation, usually paired with pas.

Example

Je ne veux pas attendre.

I do not want to wait.

peux

[puh]

can

Form of pouvoir meaning ability: 'can' or 'am able to'.

Example

Je ne peux pas m'arrêter maintenant.

I can't stop now.

pas

[pah]

not

Second part of negation with ne, making the verb negative.

Example

Je ne peux pas venir.

I cannot come.

[mah]

myself

Reflexive pronoun used with a reflexive verb, here 'to stop oneself' = 'to stop'.

Example

Je dois m'arrêter au feu rouge.

I have to stop at the red light.

arrêter

[ah-reh-tay]

to stop

Reflexive verb s'arrêter means to stop, halt, or pull over.

Example

Je ne peux pas m'arrêter devant cette porte.

I can't stop in front of that door.

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