Spanish word

quebrar

Pronunciation

IPA/keˈβɾaɾ/

Meaning

  • verbbreak

Example

No quiebres mi taza, por favor.

Do not break my cup, please.

Illustration for quebrar (break)

More examples

Tras las críticas, se quebró su ánimo.

After the criticism, his spirits were broken.

Core concept

A ceramic cup with a jagged fracture.

Common phrases

  • quebrar la voluntad

    break someone's will

  • quebrar el ánimo

    break someone's spirits

  • quebrar en llanto

    burst into tears

Similar words

romper: An object breaks under applied force, typically creating a crack or clear separation.
partir: An object is split into two or more pieces by breaking it along a line or seam.
destrozar: An object is smashed into a ruined, unrecognizable state, losing shape and function.
estropear: An object's condition or function is damaged so it no longer works properly.

Definition in Spanish

Causar la rotura o fractura de un objeto, o indicar que algo se rompe por sí mismo (quebrarse); también puede referirse a procesos que dejan de funcionar.

Word origin

The verb derives from Vulgar Latin *quebrare, cognate with Portuguese quebrar, and originally meant to split or shatter brittle things.

Usage tips

  • Quebrar appears both transitively (quebrar algo) and reflexively (quebrarse), and romper often replaces it for casual breakage while quebrar suggests splitting or structural collapse.

Other meanings

  • get brokenverb
  • crackverb

Opposites

Related words

  • quebradobrokenadjective
  • quiebrebreakdownnoun

Word lists with this word