How to Say "broken" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “broken” is “roto” — use 'roto' when something is physically damaged or shattered, like a dropped object..
roto
ROH-toh/ˈro.to/
Examples
Mi teléfono está roto; se cayó de la mesa.
My phone is broken; it fell off the table.
Compré una camisa con el cuello roto.
I bought a shirt with a torn collar.
¿Puedes arreglar la silla? Tiene una pata rota.
Can you fix the chair? It has a broken leg.
Agreement is Key
Since 'roto' is an adjective, it must change its ending (roto/a/os/as) to match the gender and number of the thing it describes. Always check what you are talking about!
Past Participle Origin
'Roto' is the irregular past tense form of the verb 'romper' (to break). When used with 'estar', it describes the resulting state of being broken.
Missing Gender Agreement
Mistake: “La ventana es roto.”
Correction: La ventana está rota. ('Ventana' is feminine, so use 'rota'.)
estropeado
/es-tro-peh-AH-doh//estɾopeˈaðo/
Examples
No puedo enviarte el archivo porque mi ordenador está estropeado.
I can't send you the file because my computer is broken.
El ascensor lleva estropeado toda la semana.
The elevator has been out of order all week.
Changing the Ending
Since this word acts as a description, you must change the ending to 'estropeada' if you are talking about a feminine object like 'una silla' (a chair).
Using with 'Estar'
Always use the verb 'estar' (to be) with this word because it describes a condition or a state that changed, rather than a permanent characteristic.
Don't use 'Ser'
Mistake: “La radio es estropeada.”
Correction: La radio está estropeada. Use 'estar' because the radio wasn't born broken; it's just in that state right now.
dañado
Examples
El motor del coche está dañado.
The car's engine is damaged.
corrupto
/ko-ROOP-toh//koˈrupto/
Examples
No puedo abrir el documento porque el archivo está corrupto.
I can't open the document because the file is corrupt.
partido
/par-TEE-doh//paɾˈti.ðo/
Examples
Hemos partido la tarta en seis trozos.
We have split the cake into six pieces.
El tren ha partido hace cinco minutos.
The train has left five minutes ago.
Two Main Jobs
Partido does two things as a verb form. First, it teams up with haber to talk about completed actions (e.g., he partido - I have split). Second, it can act as a describing word, just like the adjective version (e.g., la leña partida - the split firewood).
violada
/bee-oh-LAH-dah//bjoˈlaða/
Examples
La ley fue violada por la empresa.
The law was broken by the company.
Ella sintió que su privacidad fue violada.
She felt that her privacy was violated.
Feminine Matching
This word ends in 'a' because it must match the feminine thing it describes, like 'la ley' (the law) or 'la privacidad' (privacy).
Violada vs. Rota
Mistake: “Using 'violada' for a broken physical object like a plate.”
Correction: Use 'rota' for physical objects. Use 'violada' for abstract things like rules or personal space.
Physical vs. Functional Damage
Related Translations
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