Spanish word

quiebra

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈkjeβɾa/

Meaning

  • feminine nounbankruptcy

Example

La quiebra dejó a muchos sin trabajo.

The bankruptcy left many people without jobs.

Illustration for quiebra (bankruptcy)

More examples

Tras perder a su principal cliente, la cadena empezó a ir a la quiebra.

After losing its main customer, the chain began to go bankrupt.

Core concept

A closed storefront with stacks of unpaid creditor letters.

Common phrases

  • ir a la quiebra

    go bankrupt

  • quiebra empresarial

    corporate bankruptcy

Similar words

bancarrota: Legal bankruptcy procedure in which a court handles claims and brings the business to an end.
cierre: Premises cease trading and shut down.
liquidación: Assets are liquidated to pay creditors as the business is wound down.

Definition in Spanish

Estado en que una persona o empresa no puede pagar sus deudas y pierde la solvencia financiera.

Word origin

Noun formed from quebrar 'to break', with the image of breaking extended to a person or company losing solvency and failing to pay debts.

Usage tips

  • Common collocations include declararse en quiebra, estar en quiebra, and ir a la quiebra, with declararse often marking a formal legal filing.

Other meanings

  • collapsenoun

Opposites

Related words

  • quebradobankruptadjective
  • quebrarbankruptverb

Word lists with this word