romper
Lemma Details
Translation: to break; to tear; to smash; to shatter; to rupture; to violate; to interrupt
Part of Speech: verb
Etymology: Romper comes from Latin 'rumpere' meaning 'to break'. This Latin root also gave English words like 'rupture', 'corrupt', 'interrupt', 'abrupt', and 'bankrupt'. The core idea of breaking or tearing something apart is preserved across these cognates. The Latin 'rumpere' ultimately derives from Proto-Indo-European *rewp- ('to break').
Commonality: 90%
Guessability: 70%
Register: neutral
Example Usage
El niño rompió el jarrón.
The boy broke the vase.
Decidí romper con mi novio.
I decided to break up with my boyfriend.
La noticia rompió el silencio.
The news broke the silence.
Se me rompió el corazón cuando lo vi llorar.
My heart broke when I saw him cry.
Rompieron el récord mundial.
They broke the world record.
Mnemonics
- Think of 'romper' as related to English 'rupture' - both involve breaking something.
- Imagine a 'romper suit' (children's clothing) being torn or ripped - 'romper' means to break or tear.
- The 'romp' in romper suggests energetic action - sometimes when you break things, it's with force or energy.
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Cultural Context
In Spanish culture, 'romper' is used in many idiomatic expressions and contexts beyond the literal breaking of objects. It's commonly used to describe ending relationships, breaking traditions, or disrupting norms.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: As a noun in English, 'romper' refers to a one-piece garment for children, while in Spanish 'romper' is a verb meaning 'to break'.
Notes: The English noun 'romper' would be translated as 'mameluco' or 'enterizo' in Spanish.
Mnemonic: Spanish 'romper' breaks things; English 'romper' is something babies wear.
Explanation: While 'romper' means 'to break', 'roncar' means 'to snore'. They look somewhat similar but have completely different meanings.
Notes: The 'mp' in romper versus the 'nc' in roncar is the key spelling difference to note.
Mnemonic: ROMPer breaks things apart; RONCar makes noise (like the sound of snoring).