останавливать vs останавливаться
ostanavlivat' vs ostanavlivat'sya — stop something/someone vs stop oneself
Register: neutral
What it really means
Останавливать is transitive: stop a car, person, process, or someone from doing something. Останавливаться is intransitive: a person or vehicle stops, or someone stays somewhere. The reflexive form has no direct object.
Examples in natural speech
Полицейский останавливает машину.
The police officer stops the car.
Не останавливай меня.
Do not stop me.
Автобус останавливается здесь.
The bus stops here.
Мы остановились у друзей.
We stayed with friends.
Он часто останавливается подумать.
He often stops to think.
Common mistakes
Do not say я останавливаю for “I stop”; use я останавливаюсь. Остановить машину is one completed stop.
Memory tip
Останавливать stops an object; останавливаться is the mover stopping.
Frequently asked questions
How do I say stop the car?
Остановить машину.
How do I say the bus stops?
Автобус останавливается.
Can останавливаться mean stay?
Yes, at a hotel or with people.
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