How to Say "to crack" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “to crack” is “fracturar” — use 'fracturar' when a bone or a physical object breaks completely, often due to impact or force..
fracturar
/frahk-too-RAHR//fɾaktuˈɾaɾ/
Examples
El atleta se fracturó el tobillo al caer.
The athlete fractured his ankle when he fell.
El jugador se fracturó la pierna durante el partido.
The player broke his leg during the game.
Es posible fracturar un hueso sin sentir mucho dolor al principio.
It is possible to fracture a bone without feeling much pain at first.
La caída fracturó el pavimento de la entrada.
The fall cracked the pavement of the entrance.
Using 'Se' with Injuries
When talking about breaking your own bone, use the word 'se' (reflexive) to show the action happened to you. For example: 'Se fracturó el brazo' (He broke his arm).
The 'El/La' Rule for Body Parts
In Spanish, we don't usually say 'my' or 'his' with body parts when using this verb. Instead of 'mi pierna,' we say 'la pierna' because the 'se' already tells us whose leg it is.
Don't use 'mi' for your own bones
Mistake: “Me fracturé mi brazo.”
Correction: Me fracturé el brazo. (In Spanish, using 'me' already shows it's your own arm, so 'mi' is redundant).
rajar
/rah-HAR//ra'xaɾ/
Examples
El frío extremo hizo rajar la tubería de agua.
The extreme cold caused the water pipe to crack.
Tuvimos que rajar la leña para la chimenea.
We had to split the firewood for the fireplace.
El frío intenso rajó la superficie del suelo.
The intense cold cracked the surface of the ground.
Raja la sandía por la mitad, por favor.
Slice the watermelon in half, please.
A regular verb
This verb follows the standard pattern for verbs ending in -ar. No surprise stem changes here!
Physical Action
When used physically, it usually describes an action where a solid object gets a long, thin opening or break.
Rajar vs. Rayar
Mistake: “Using 'rajar' when you mean to scratch something.”
Correction: Use 'rayar' for surface scratches (like on a car) and 'rajar' when the object actually cracks or splits open.
Fracturar vs. Rajar
Related Translations
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