Inklingo

How to Say "break" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “break” is “pausa” — use 'pausa' for a short, general rest period from any activity, work, or study.

pausa🔊A1

Use 'pausa' for a short, general rest period from any activity, work, or study.

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descanso🔊A1

Use 'descanso' for a short period of rest, often after physical exertion or to recover energy.

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recreo🔊A1

Use 'recreo' specifically for a break time during a school day or a structured session, like recess.

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vacaciónA1

Use 'vacación' for a longer, planned period away from work or duties, like a holiday.

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ruptura🔊A2

Use 'ruptura' to describe a physical break or fracture in a solid object, especially bones or rigid materials.

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fractura🔊A2

Use 'fractura' for a crack or break in a bone or other hard surface, often implying medical attention.

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intermedio🔊B1

Use 'intermedio' for an interval or break between parts of an event, like a play or a sports match.

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interrupciónB1

Use 'interrupción' for an act of stopping something temporarily or a disturbance that causes a pause.

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parada🔊B1

Use 'parada' for a stop or pause made during a journey or trip.

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respiro🔊B1

Use 'respiro' for a brief pause from demanding activity, stress, or a difficult situation.

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rotura🔊B1

Use 'rotura' for a physical break or rupture, especially when something splits into pieces or is damaged.

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parte🔊B1

Use the verb 'partir' (conjugated as 'parte' in the imperative) when instructing someone to divide or cut something into pieces.

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abra🔊B2

Use 'abra' to refer to a natural opening or gap in terrain, like a mountain pass.

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quiebra🔊C1

Use 'quiebra' for a significant crack or break in a solid structure, often implying structural damage.

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English → Spanish

pausa

PAH-oo-sahˈpau̯.sa

nounA1general
Use 'pausa' for a short, general rest period from any activity, work, or study.
A high quality simple colorful storybook illustration showing a winding, continuous path that features a short, empty gap in the middle, symbolizing a momentary stop before the path continues.

Examples

Hagamos una pausa de diez minutos antes de seguir trabajando.

Let's take a ten-minute break before continuing work.

El locutor hizo una pausa larga para generar suspenso.

The announcer made a long pause to build suspense.

Voy a ponerle pausa a la película para ir al baño.

I'm going to put the movie on pause to go to the bathroom.

Gender Check

Remember that 'pausa' is always a feminine word, so you must use feminine articles and adjectives with it (e.g., 'una pausa corta' means 'a short break').

Using 'Pausa' as a Verb

Mistake: “Yo pausa (I pause)”

Correction: The verb form is 'pausar'. The most common way to express the action is using the phrase 'hacer una pausa' (to make a pause/take a break).

descanso

des-CAN-sodesˈkanso

nounA1general
Use 'descanso' for a short period of rest, often after physical exertion or to recover energy.
A person peacefully resting in a bright blue hammock strung between two palm trees.

Examples

Necesito un descanso después de caminar tanto.

I need a rest after walking so much.

El médico me ordenó descanso absoluto por dos días.

The doctor ordered me complete rest for two days.

¿Tomamos cinco minutos de descanso?

Shall we take a five-minute break?

Using the Verb Form

This noun comes from the verb 'descansar' (to rest). If you want to say 'I am resting,' use the verb: 'Estoy descansando' instead of trying to use the noun.

Confusing 'descanso' and 'sueño'

Mistake: “Using 'descanso' when you specifically mean 'sleep' (sueño/dormir).”

Correction: While rest is related to sleep, 'descanso' usually refers to a waking break or relaxation. Sleep itself is 'sueño'.

recreo

reh-KREH-ohreˈkɾeo

nounA1general
Use 'recreo' specifically for a break time during a school day or a structured session, like recess.
Children playing together on a sunny school playground with a slide and a ball.

Examples

Los niños juegan al fútbol en el recreo.

The children play soccer at recess.

Nos vemos en el patio durante el recreo.

We'll see each other in the courtyard during the break.

El profesor vigila a los alumnos en la hora del recreo.

The teacher watches the students during break time.

Always Masculine

Even though it ends in 'o', it follows the standard rule and is always 'el recreo'.

Using 'at' or 'in'

To say 'at recess' or 'during break,' use the phrase 'en el recreo'.

Confusing with 'Descanso'

Mistake: “Using 'descanso' for school recess.”

Correction: While 'descanso' means break, 'recreo' is specifically used for the scheduled playtime at school.

vacación

nounA1general
Use 'vacación' for a longer, planned period away from work or duties, like a holiday.

Examples

Tengo una semana de vacación pendiente.

I have one week of vacation pending.

ruptura

roop-TOO-rahrupˈtu.ɾa

nounA2general
Use 'ruptura' to describe a physical break or fracture in a solid object, especially bones or rigid materials.
A high quality illustration of a brightly colored ceramic plate lying on a wooden table, clearly split into two distinct, separated pieces.

Examples

El doctor confirmó la ruptura del hueso.

The doctor confirmed the fracture of the bone.

Tuvimos que reparar la ruptura en la tubería de agua.

We had to repair the break in the water pipe.

Using 'rotura' vs 'ruptura'

Mistake: “Using 'rotura' for a relationship breakup.”

Correction: 'Rotura' is often preferred for simple physical breaks (like a broken glass), while 'ruptura' is used for bone fractures, ligament tears, and all figurative breaks (relationships, diplomacy, etc.).

fractura

frak-TOO-rahfɾakˈtuɾa

nounA2medical, general
Use 'fractura' for a crack or break in a bone or other hard surface, often implying medical attention.
A colorful illustration of a human arm bone with a clean break in the middle.

Examples

El médico confirmó que el niño tiene una fractura en el brazo.

The doctor confirmed that the boy has a fracture in his arm.

Esta roca tiene una pequeña fractura por el frío.

This rock has a small crack because of the cold.

Gender of the word

This word is feminine. You should always use 'la' or 'una' with it, like 'la fractura'.

Fractura vs. Roto

Mistake: “Saying 'Tengo una fractura brazo'.”

Correction: Say 'Tengo una fractura en el brazo'. You need the word 'en' (in) to show where the break is located.

intermedio

een-tehr-MEH-dyohinteɾˈmeðjo

nounB1general
Use 'intermedio' for an interval or break between parts of an event, like a play or a sports match.
Closed red theater curtains with a bucket of popcorn sitting on a seat in the foreground.

Examples

Compré palomitas durante el intermedio.

I bought popcorn during the intermission.

El intermedio de la obra durará diez minutos.

The play's intermission will last ten minutes.

Aproveché el intermedio para saludar a los músicos.

I took advantage of the interval to say hello to the musicians.

Always Masculine

When referring to a break in a show, 'intermedio' is a masculine noun. You will always use 'el' or 'un' with it.

Intermedio vs. Entretiempo

Mistake: “El intermedio del partido de fútbol.”

Correction: El descanso (or entretiempo) del partido de fútbol.

interrupción

nounB1general
Use 'interrupción' for an act of stopping something temporarily or a disturbance that causes a pause.

Examples

Perdón por la interrupción, pero tengo una pregunta.

Sorry for the interruption, but I have a question.

parada

pah-RAH-dahpaˈɾaða

nounB1travel
Use 'parada' for a stop or pause made during a journey or trip.
An illustration of a worker taking a break, sitting down and resting during a halt in activity.

Examples

Hagamos una parada para comer algo antes de seguir el camino.

Let's make a stop to eat something before continuing the journey.

El vuelo tiene una parada de tres horas en Madrid.

The flight has a three-hour layover in Madrid.

Common Verb Partner

The most frequent way to use this meaning is with the verb 'hacer' (to do/make): 'hacer una parada'.

respiro

ress-PEE-rohresˈpiɾo

nounB1general
Use 'respiro' for a brief pause from demanding activity, stress, or a difficult situation.
A small cartoon bear relaxing against a tree in a forest clearing, happily drinking lemonade, representing a pause or break from activity.

Examples

Necesito un respiro de la rutina diaria.

I need a break from the daily routine.

La tormenta nos dio un respiro del calor sofocante.

The storm gave us a respite from the suffocating heat.

Tómate un respiro, has estado trabajando por horas.

Take a break, you've been working for hours.

Masculine Noun Rule

'Respiro' is always a masculine noun, so you must use 'el' or 'un' before it, like 'el respiro' or 'un respiro'.

rotura

ro-TOO-rahroˈtuɾa

nounB1general
Use 'rotura' for a physical break or rupture, especially when something splits into pieces or is damaged.
A colorful ceramic vase broken into several large pieces on a wooden floor.

Examples

La rotura de la tubería causó una inundación en el sótano.

The pipe break caused a flood in the basement.

El deportista tiene una rotura de fibras en la pierna.

The athlete has a muscle tear in his leg.

No podemos vender este plato por la rotura del borde.

We can't sell this plate because of the crack on the rim.

Always Feminine

Even though it ends in 'a', it's good to remember that 'la rotura' is a naming word for a thing (a noun) and stays feminine regardless of what object broke.

Describing the Damage

Use 'de' after 'rotura' to name the object that is broken, like 'rotura de cristal' (glass break).

Rotura vs. Ruptura

Mistake: “La ruptura de la tubería.”

Correction: La rotura de la tubería. Use 'rotura' for physical objects and 'ruptura' for relationships or abstract ideas.

parte

PAR-tehˈpaɾte

verbB1general
Use the verb 'partir' (conjugated as 'parte' in the imperative) when instructing someone to divide or cut something into pieces.
A hand using a knife to neatly slice a round cheese wheel into two perfect halves on a wooden board.

Examples

Parte el pastel en ocho trozos, por favor.

Cut the cake into eight pieces, please.

Es importante que usted parte de cero en este proyecto.

It's important that you start from scratch on this project.

No quiero que se parte la cuerda.

I don't want the rope to break.

A Form of the Verb 'partir'

This isn't a word on its own, but a form of the verb 'partir' (to cut, split, leave). You'll see 'parte' used as a command for 'tú' (you): '¡Parte el pan!' (Cut the bread!).

abra

AH-brahˈa.βɾa

nounB2geographical
Use 'abra' to refer to a natural opening or gap in terrain, like a mountain pass.
A visual representation of a geographical gap: two large green hills separated by a narrow, clear path or opening.

Examples

Tuvimos que cruzar la abra de la sierra para llegar al valle.

We had to cross the mountain pass to reach the valley.

La abra en la costa ofrecía un refugio natural para los barcos.

The inlet on the coast offered a natural shelter for the boats.

Gender Note

This noun is feminine: 'la abra'. Note that it does not follow the rule of using 'el' before feminine nouns that start with a stressed 'a' sound, because 'abra' is not stressed on the first syllable.

quiebra

KYEH-brahˈkje.βɾa

nounC1general, structural
Use 'quiebra' for a significant crack or break in a solid structure, often implying structural damage.
A visible crack running through a smooth stone surface.

Examples

La quiebra en el muro permitía ver el otro lado.

The crack in the wall allowed us to see the other side.

Physical Breaks vs. Pauses

The most common confusion is between words for physical breaks ('ruptura', 'fractura', 'quiebra') and words for pauses in activity ('pausa', 'descanso', 'respiro'). Remember, if something is physically broken or cracked, use a 'ruptura' or 'fractura' type word. If you're just stopping an activity for a while, use a 'pausa' or 'descanso'.

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