German word

brechen

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈbrɛçn̩/

Meaning

  • verbbreak

Example

Ich breche die Vase.

I break the vase.

Illustration for brechen (break)

More examples

Er wollte das Eis brechen.

He wanted to break the ice.

Core concept

A continuous object or connection suddenly parts, whether a piece is removed or the whole comes apart.

Common phrases

  • das Eis brechen

    break the ice

  • das Schweigen brechen

    break the silence

  • einen Knochen brechen

    break a bone

Similar words

kaputtmachen: Informally damage an object or machine until it stops working.
kaputtgehen: Become unusable because of damage, a fault, or an impact.
zerbrechen: Cause a brittle object to crack and split apart.
zerstören: Destroy something completely, leaving no usable form or function.

Definition in German

etwas durch Brechen in einen neuen, beschädigten Zustand bringen; kann transitiv sein oder intransitiv als Zustand erscheinen

Word origin

German brechen developed through Old and Middle High German from Proto-Germanic *brekaną, the same Germanic source that also gave English break.

Usage tips

  • With a body part, German uses the dative reflexive pattern sich etwas brechen, as in sich den Arm brechen.

Other meanings

  • break offverb

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word