Parar vs. Detener

[wafflestomp]

When it comes to saying stop in Spanish, I know you'd generally see "Para" on street signs, but in conversation, would people say "detente" or "detengase" for certain things then use para/pare for others? or is it just totally interchangable?

Thanks guys! Really appreciate it.

[Rusty]

Stop signs have ALTO (halt) written on them in Mexico and Central America, as far as I've seen. They say PARE in South America and the Caribbean.

'To stop doing something' is often said 'dejar de hacer algo'.

As you know, the pronominal form of detener (detenerse) is used when you mean 'to stop/cease doing something'. I've heard it used, but not nearly as much as 'dejar de hacer algo'.

Parar means 'stop', as in 'stop the bus'.
Pararse means 'stop/cease doing something'. I've heard it used that way, but again it isn't nearly as popular as 'dejar de hacer algo'.

Pararse also means 'to stand up'.