roto
“roto” means “broken” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
broken, torn
Also: shattered, ripped
📝 In Action
Mi teléfono está roto; se cayó de la mesa.
A1My phone is broken; it fell off the table.
Compré una camisa con el cuello roto.
A2I bought a shirt with a torn collar.
¿Puedes arreglar la silla? Tiene una pata rota.
A1Can you fix the chair? It has a broken leg.
broke, devastated
Also: penniless
📝 In Action
No puedo salir, estoy totalmente roto este mes.
B2I can't go out, I'm totally broke this month.
Después de la noticia, ella quedó rota, sin palabras.
C1After the news, she was devastated, speechless.
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: roto
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'roto' to describe physical damage?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
This word comes directly from the Latin verb *rumpere*, meaning 'to break.' 'Roto' is the irregular past tense form, which means it didn't follow the standard pattern of adding '-ido' (like *partido*), but instead evolved into its current short form.
First recorded: 13th century (as a form of romper)
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'roto' a verb or an adjective?
It functions primarily as an adjective meaning 'broken.' However, it is fundamentally the irregular past participle of the verb 'romper' (to break), which means it's the base form used to create perfect tenses (e.g., 'He roto la promesa' - I have broken the promise).
How do I say 'I am broken' (physically or emotionally)?
You must use 'estar' because you are describing a current state or condition: 'Estoy roto' (for a male speaker) or 'Estoy rota' (for a female speaker).