Are quebrar and romper both mean to break?

Question

A lot of people tell me their the same

Answer 1

Hi def, yes, they are more or less the same.

However, quebrar has more meanings to it:

quebrar.

(Del lat. crep?re, estallar, romper con estrépito).

1. tr. Romper, separar con violencia.

2. tr. Traspasar, violar una ley u obligación.

3. tr. Doblar o torcer. Quebrar el cuerpo. U. t. c. prnl.

4. tr. Interrumpir o estorbar la continuación de algo no material.

Answer 2

This is from the dictionary Translate at the top of the screen:

romper transitive verb 1. to break (partir, fragmentar); to smash (hacer añicos); to tear (rasgar)

* romper algo en pedazos -> to break/smash/tear something to pieces 

1. to break (estropear)
2. to wear out (desgastar)
3. to break (interrumpir) (monotonía, silencio, hábito); to break off (hilo del discurso); to put an end to, to stop (tradición)

4. to break off (terminar)

   If something is broken:Se ha roto

It seems to me both words are interchangeable. If you type quebrar into the Translate window one of the synonyms is romper

Answer 3

Quebrar means to break. Romper means to tear, rip.