rotos
/RO-tohs/
broken
A broken plate illustrates 'rotos' in the context of smashed objects.
rotos(adjective)
broken
?objects that are smashed or not working
,torn
?clothing or fabric with holes
worn out
?exhausted or very tired people
,shattered
?emotions or dreams
📝 In Action
Los platos cayeron al suelo y ahora están rotos.
A1The plates fell to the floor and now they are broken.
Me gusta usar pantalones rotos.
A1I like wearing torn jeans.
Después de la maratón, mis pies terminaron rotos.
B1After the marathon, my feet ended up worn out.
💡 Grammar Points
The Irregular Rule
This word is a special form of the verb 'romper' (to break). Even though most words like this end in '-ido', this one is irregular. You must use 'rotos' instead of 'rompidos'.
Matching Groups
Since this ends in '-os', use it when describing multiple masculine items (like 'los juguetes') or a mixed group of items.
❌ Common Pitfalls
The 'Rompidos' Error
Mistake: "Los vasos están rompidos."
Correction: Los vasos están rotos. Spanish uses an irregular form for the word 'broken'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Describing Feelings
You can use 'rotos' to describe being very tired, but it's informal. It's like saying you are 'beat' or 'wrecked' in English.
A tear in clothing illustrates 'rotos' in the context of holes in fabric.
📝 In Action
Mi abuela cosió los rotos de mis calcetines.
B2My grandmother sewed the tears in my socks.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: rotos
Question 1 of 2
Which of the following is the correct way to say 'The toys are broken'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Why isn't it 'rompidos'?
Just like in English we say 'broken' instead of 'breaked', Spanish has irregular verbs. 'Rotos' is the correct irregular form for the verb 'romper'.
Can I use 'rotos' for broken electronics?
Yes, but often Spanish speakers use 'estropeados' or 'no funcionan' for things like phones or computers that aren't physically in pieces but just don't work.