quebrado
“quebrado” means “broken” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
broken, bankrupt
Also: rugged, weak
📝 In Action
Ten cuidado con ese plato, está quebrado.
A2Be careful with that plate; it is broken (cracked).
Después de la crisis, el pequeño negocio quedó quebrado.
B1After the crisis, the small business went bankrupt.
El terreno era muy quebrado y difícil de caminar.
B2The terrain was very rugged and difficult to walk through.
fraction
Also: hernia
📝 In Action
Hoy en la escuela aprendimos a sumar quebrados.
B1Today in school we learned how to add fractions.
Un medio y un cuarto son ejemplos de quebrados.
A2One half and one quarter are examples of fractions.
El profesor explicó la diferencia entre decimales y quebrados.
B1The teacher explained the difference between decimals and fractions.
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: quebrado
Question 1 of 3
If a business is described as 'quebrado', what is its status?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
From the Latin verb 'crepare', which meant to creak, crack, or snap with a loud noise. Over time, it shifted to mean the physical act of breaking or cracking.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'roto' and 'quebrado'?
'Roto' is more general and can mean anything from a torn shirt to a shattered phone. 'Quebrado' usually implies a rigid object (like glass, bone, or wood) that has cracked or snapped.
Can I use 'quebrado' for a broken heart?
Yes, although 'corazón roto' is more common, 'corazón quebrado' sounds poetic and is frequently used in songs and literature.
Is 'quebrado' a verb form?
Technically, yes. It is the 'past participle' of the verb 'quebrar'. It is used to form compound tenses like 'He quebrado' (I have broken), but it most commonly acts as a standalone adjective.