Spanish Phrase
No interrumpas al entrevistador.
Meaning
A firm but polite request not to speak over or break the flow of the person who is asking the questions. It carries a tone of respect for the interviewer's role and the formal setting.
When to use
Use this sentence during a job interview, a media interview, or any formal Q&A situation where you want to remind yourself or a colleague to let the interviewer finish speaking before responding.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Nointerrumpasalentrevistador
Negative imperative
In Spanish, a negative command is formed with 'no' + the present subjunctive form of the verb.
Present subjunctive of 'interrumpir'
For the familiar 'tú' form, the subjunctive of 'interrumpir' is 'interrumpas'.
Personal 'a' + contraction 'al'
When the direct object is a specific person, Spanish uses the personal 'a'. Here 'a' + 'el' contracts to 'al'.
Verb‑object order
The verb precedes the object in commands, so 'interrumpas al entrevistador' is the correct order.
🗨In Conversation
¿Podrías decirme más sobre tu experiencia?
Could you tell me more about your experience?
No interrumpas al entrevistador.
Don't interrupt the interviewer.
✕Common Mistakes
No interrumpir al entrevistador.
Using the infinitive after 'no' creates a non‑command phrase; you need the subjunctive form 'interrumpas'.
No interrumpas a el entrevistador.
When 'a' and 'el' appear together, they must contract to 'al'.
No interrumpe al entrevistador.
The affirmative imperative for 'tú' is 'interrumpe', but the negative command requires the subjunctive 'interrumpas'.
↔Alternatives
Por favor, no interrumpas al entrevistador.
Please, don't interrupt the interviewer.
Evita interrumpir al entrevistador.
Avoid interrupting the interviewer.
No interrumpas al entrevistador, gracias.
Don't interrupt the interviewer, thank you.
Cultural Tip
In many Spanish‑speaking countries, interrupting a speaker—especially in a formal setting like an interview—is seen as very impolite. Using the familiar 'tú' form (interrumpas) is acceptable when you are speaking to yourself or a peer; if you are addressing a colleague, you might switch to the formal 'usted' form: 'No interrumpa al entrevistador.'