quebrado
Lemma Details
Translation: broken; fractured; bankrupt; rugged; uneven
Part of Speech: adjective
Etymology: Derived from the verb 'quebrar' (to break), which comes from Latin 'crepare' meaning 'to crack, break with a sharp noise'. The English cognate 'crepitate' (to make a crackling sound) shares this Latin root. The transition from Latin 'crepare' to Spanish 'quebrar' involved a metathesis (switching of sounds) where 'cre-' became 'que-', a common phonological change in the evolution from Latin to Spanish.
Commonality: 70%
Guessability: 30%
Register: neutral
Example Usage
El jarrón quebrado no se puede reparar.
The broken vase cannot be repaired.
Después de la crisis, muchos negocios quedaron quebrados.
After the crisis, many businesses went bankrupt.
El camino es muy quebrado y difícil de recorrer.
The path is very rugged and difficult to travel.
Habló con voz quebrada por la emoción.
He spoke with a voice broken by emotion.
Mnemonics
- Think of something 'que-BREAK-do' (that breaks)
- Associate with 'quake' + 'break' = earthquake breaks things
- Remember that financial bankruptcy 'breaks' your finances
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Synonyms
Cultural Context
In financial contexts, 'quebrado' commonly refers to bankruptcy or financial ruin. In geography, 'quebrada' (feminine form) is used in many Latin American countries to refer to a ravine or gorge, reflecting the 'broken' nature of the landscape.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: 'Quebrado' means 'broken' while 'quemado' means 'burned'. They look and sound similar but refer to different types of damage.
This word:
El plato está quebrado.
The plate is broken.
Confused word:
El pan está quemado.
The bread is burned.
Notes: Both words can be used metaphorically: 'quebrado' for something ruined or bankrupt, 'quemado' for someone exhausted or burned out.
Mnemonic: 'Quebrado' has a 'br' in it, like 'broken'; 'quemado' has an 'm' like 'flame'.
Explanation: 'Quebrado' means 'broken' while 'cuadrado' means 'square'. They have similar endings but very different meanings.
This word:
El terreno es quebrado y difícil para construir.
The terrain is rugged and difficult to build on.
Confused word:
Dibujó un cuadrado perfecto.
He drew a perfect square.
Notes: 'Cuadrado' can also be used figuratively to describe someone who is rigid or inflexible in thinking.
Mnemonic: 'Cuadrado' contains 'cuad-' which relates to 'quad' or four sides of a square.