quiebra
/KYEH-brah/
bankruptcy
Quiebra can refer to bankruptcy or financial failure.
quiebra(noun)
bankruptcy
?financial failure
ruin
?complete loss of money
,collapse
?business failure
📝 In Action
La aerolínea se declaró en quiebra después de la crisis.
B2The airline declared bankruptcy after the crisis.
Muchos negocios pequeños temen la quiebra.
B1Many small businesses fear bankruptcy.
💡 Grammar Points
Using the word 'en'
To say a company is 'bankrupt,' Spanish uses the phrase 'en quiebra' (in bankruptcy) rather than using it as a simple adjective.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Quiebra vs. Bancarrota
Mistake: "Using 'bancarrota' exclusively."
Correction: While 'bancarrota' is understood, 'quiebra' is the more standard legal and professional term in most Spanish-speaking countries.
⭐ Usage Tips
Business contexts
Use this word when reading news about the economy or talking about professional financial status.
Quiebra is used when something physical breaks.
quiebra(verb)
breaks
?physical objects or rules
shatters
?glass or fragile things
,goes bankrupt
?financial status
📝 In Action
Ese cristal se quiebra fácilmente.
A2That glass breaks easily.
Ella nunca quiebra sus promesas.
B1She never breaks her promises.
💡 Grammar Points
The 'e' to 'ie' swap
The 'e' in the middle of 'quebrar' turns into 'ie' whenever that part of the word is emphasized while speaking (like in 'quiebra' or 'quiebro').
⭐ Usage Tips
Breaking objects vs. feelings
'Romper' is more common for physical things, while 'quebrar' often sounds slightly more poetic or refers to hard, brittle things like glass or business structures.
Quiebra also describes a crack or physical split in a surface.
quiebra(noun)
crack
?physical split in a surface
crevice
?gap in a rock or wall
,break
?physical fracture
📝 In Action
La quiebra en el muro permitía ver el otro lado.
C1The crack in the wall allowed us to see the other side.
🔄 Conjugations
subjunctive
imperfect
present
indicative
preterite
imperfect
present
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: quiebra
Question 1 of 2
If a company 'está en quiebra', what is happening?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'quiebra' the same as 'romper'?
'Quiebra' as a verb form comes from 'quebrar'. While 'romper' is a general word for 'to break', 'quebrar' is often used for brittle things (like glass) or abstract things (like silence or laws).
Does 'quiebra' always refer to money?
Not always, but it is the most common use in adult conversation. It can also mean a physical crack or be a part of the verb 'to break'.