# Why do stop signs ALWAYS say "STOP" **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 19, 2000, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-stop-signs-always-say-stop/37486 "2000-10-19T01:35:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2010, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-stop-signs-always-say-stop/37486/21 "2010-12-26T13:05:02Z")
Japanese stop signs don’t use English and are triangular. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2010, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-stop-signs-always-say-stop/37486/22 "2010-12-26T13:06:48Z")
> [@Koxinga](#): > > Sounds to _me_ like they’re pledging fealty to Saruman. [Hmm](http://msc.walla.co.il/archive/140792-5.jpg). Maybe you’re right. ---
**Author:** ![Mops](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mops/32/16494_2.png) [@Mops](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mops)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2010, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-stop-signs-always-say-stop/37486/23 "2010-12-26T13:17:44Z")
> [@bibliophage](#): > > The French word **stop** is derived from the English word, according to my Petit Larousse. The word for “stop sign” in German is “Stoppschild”, but I was under the impression that the signs themselves said “Halt” in Germany. (But I’ve never been there, so I couldn’t really say.) Nope, they say STOP. (and it is my impression that ‘Stop’ is not perceived as a foreign-language word. We also use ‘stoppen’ as a verb.) ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2010, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-stop-signs-always-say-stop/37486/24 "2010-12-26T13:25:02Z")
Zombie crossing. STOP. ---
**Author:** ![Desert\_Nomad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desert_nomad/32/177_2.png) [@Desert\_Nomad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Desert_Nomad)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2010, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-stop-signs-always-say-stop/37486/25 "2010-12-26T13:37:04Z")
In much of the Mid East the signs are red octagons with Arabic writing: قف It is also usually in English as well on the same sign. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2010, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-stop-signs-always-say-stop/37486/26 "2010-12-26T14:55:38Z")
I am amused that **Alessan** posted both today and a decade ago in this thread, and someone today quoted one of his older messages. Reminder to self: whenever I have a chance to go to Israel I’ll bring along a bunch of large Saruman stickers… ---
**Author:** ![Hypnagogic\_Jerk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hypnagogic_jerk/32/4252_2.png) [@Hypnagogic\_Jerk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypnagogic_Jerk)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2010, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-stop-signs-always-say-stop/37486/27 "2010-12-26T16:09:20Z")
This is a zombie thread, but the answer to the OP is, of course, that many countries use stop signs with something else than “STOP” written on them. The red octogon is an international standard, but what is written on it can be “STOP” or can be a phrase in the local language. The usage does not even have to be consistent: see stop signs in [Cree](http://incolor.inebraska.com/twotaildog/bdt/BDT_07_15_12_cree_sign.JPG), [Cree and English](http://francisvachon.photoshelter.com/image/I0000KowQ8Q56lQM), [French and Cree](http://www.advrider.com/forums/showpost.php?p=6186370&postcount=14), and [English, Cree and French](http://francisvachon.photoshelter.com/image?&_bqG=32&_bqH=eJwrTgzzMStxCjAOj3IvDnQvKzar8PHNLnQ3Myy2MjK0tDI1sDI0AAIrz3iXYGfb4sz0PDUwM97Rz8W2BMgODXYNivd0sQ0FKUuJSC.xNCpLMwtOV4t3dA6xLU5NLErOAAA0Qh8U&GI_ID=). (Note that even the Cree text itself doesn’t seem consistent, but since I don’t read Cree, I can’t say for sure.) Does any place outside Canada use those “no stopping” signs, a _black_ octogon inside a red circle (second sign on [this page](http://www.cambridge.ca/transportation_public_works/engineering_services_division/parking_bylaws))? I know American road signs are usually more verbose than Canadian ones which rely more on symbols, but perhaps it is used in other countries. ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2010, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-stop-signs-always-say-stop/37486/28 "2010-12-26T17:07:44Z")
There are red and white stop signs on the corners of the village where I grew up. In addition, there is a little sign underneath, also red and white, that expounds upon this: “this means you”. They actually make stop signs like this, for the bone-headed, I guess. ---
**Author:** ![stpauler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@stpauler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stpauler)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2010, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-stop-signs-always-say-stop/37486/29 "2010-12-26T17:22:53Z")
I’ve got a picture from my road trip in Peru with a stop sign in Spanish that says “Pare”. ---
**Author:** ![FluffyBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecb155/32.png) [@FluffyBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FluffyBob)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2010, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-stop-signs-always-say-stop/37486/30 "2010-12-26T17:30:19Z")
Alessan that is awesome. Sort of a temporal hat trick. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2010, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-stop-signs-always-say-stop/37486/31 "2010-12-26T18:01:58Z")
[A wide variety of stop signs.](http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Stop) > [@Hypnagogic\_Jerk](#): > > The usage does not even have to be consistent: see stop signs in [Cree](http://incolor.inebraska.com/twotaildog/bdt/BDT_07_15_12_cree_sign.JPG), [Cree and English](http://francisvachon.photoshelter.com/image/I0000KowQ8Q56lQM), [French and Cree](http://www.advrider.com/forums/showpost.php?p=6186370&postcount=14), and [English, Cree and French](http://francisvachon.photoshelter.com/image?&_bqG=32&_bqH=eJwrTgzzMStxCjAOj3IvDnQvKzar8PHNLnQ3Myy2MjK0tDI1sDI0AAIrz3iXYGfb4sz0PDUwM97Rz8W2BMgODXYNivd0sQ0FKUuJSC.xNCpLMwtOV4t3dA6xLU5NLErOAAA0Qh8U&GI_ID=). (Note that even the Cree text itself doesn’t seem consistent, but since I don’t read Cree, I can’t say for sure.) There seem to be three different spellings on the Cree signs. > [@Hypnagogic\_Jerk](#): > > Does any place outside Canada use those “no stopping” signs, a _black_ octogon inside a red circle (second sign on [this page](http://www.cambridge.ca/transportation_public_works/engineering_services_division/parking_bylaws))? I know American road signs are usually more verbose than Canadian ones which rely more on symbols, but perhaps it is used in other countries. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2010, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-stop-signs-always-say-stop/37486/32 "2010-12-26T18:04:27Z")
It’s like I have a direct line to myself of ten years ago. Hey, \*\*Alessan \*\*of 2000! Buy Google stock! Don’t hold your breath for the next George R.R. Martin book! ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2010, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-stop-signs-always-say-stop/37486/33 "2010-12-26T19:45:26Z")
> [@Musicat](#): > > Zombie crossing. STOP. No, no, Zombie Crossing signs [are always yellow](http://www.google.com/images?q=zombie+crossing+sign&hl=en&prmd=ivns&source=lnms&tbs=isch:1&ei=_JoXTdPHN4K78gav6Zm3Dg&sa=X&oi=mode_link&ct=mode&sqi=2&ved=0CA0Q_AU&biw=1127&bih=545), not red. ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2010, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-stop-signs-always-say-stop/37486/34 "2010-12-26T20:54:46Z")
> [@sailor](#): > > I think the road signs are adopted by some international convention and mostly have no words. The Stop sign says stop by international convention. > > It seems there are a few people out there who consider collecting photos of international road signs is worth their time and effort. Check out: > [http://www.geog.okstate.edu/users/lightfoot/stop/stop.htm](http://www.geog.okstate.edu/users/lightfoot/stop/stop.htm) > [News, Politics, Sports, Mail & Latest Headlines - AOL.com](http://members.aol.com/rcmoeur/r1.html) > [http://www.raspbrry.demon.co.uk/roadsigns/gallery.html](http://www.raspbrry.demon.co.uk/roadsigns/gallery.html) > [http://www.ips.be/\_wbm/rcoulst.htm](http://www.ips.be/_wbm/rcoulst.htm) None of those links resolved. They give me either 404 errors or generic pages from the host. ---
**Author:** ![stpauler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@stpauler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stpauler)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2010, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-stop-signs-always-say-stop/37486/35 "2010-12-26T21:13:44Z")
> [@CookingWithGas](#): > > None of those links resolved. They give me either 404 errors or generic pages from the host. Psst, look at the date they posted. ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2010, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-stop-signs-always-say-stop/37486/36 "2010-12-26T21:49:44Z")
> [@Renton\_lvr](#): > > Actually there are some areas here in Montreal where the signs say Stop and some that are bilingual as well as the unilingual French ones. There has been much debate over the issue in past years because it is known that it is pretty standard to have STOP even in countries like France but having it say STOP contradicts Bills 101 and 178. I really think the fact that most stop signs in Quebec are French has to do with rampant Anglophobia. It actually contradicts no law since, odd as that seems, “stop” is a word that English borrowed from French. It became close to, but not quite, obsolete in French. Ultimately it does come from Latin and not any Germanic tongue. In my suburb, all the stop signs say “stop”. ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2010, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-stop-signs-always-say-stop/37486/37 "2010-12-26T22:04:08Z")
> [@stpauler](#): > > Psst, look at the date they posted. Oh shit, run over by a speeding zombie. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Waffle\_Decider](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/77aa72/32.png) [@Waffle\_Decider](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Waffle_Decider)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2010, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-stop-signs-always-say-stop/37486/38 "2010-12-27T02:51:10Z")
Stop signs in Hong Kong are also bilingual. ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2010, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-stop-signs-always-say-stop/37486/39 "2010-12-27T03:31:36Z")
Another thing people don’t know: Until 1954, stop signs were [yellow](http://www.myparkingsign.com/MPS/article_History-of-Stop-Sign.aspx). Except in [California](http://www.flickr.com/photos/mr38/3102084376/). ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Panda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ee7513/32.png) [@Darth\_Panda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Panda)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2010, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-stop-signs-always-say-stop/37486/40 "2010-12-27T03:42:17Z")
> [@Koxinga](#): > > Sounds to _me_ like they’re pledging fealty to Saruman. Every day, I feel like I know less and less about Judaism… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-stop-signs-always-say-stop/37486.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-stop-signs-always-say-stop/37486.md?page=3)