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"Break out" is an intransitive verb phrase which is often translated as "escaparse", and "break" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "romper". Learn more about the difference between "break out" and "break" below.
break out(
breyk
aut
)An intransitive verb phrase is a phrase that combines a verb with a preposition or other particle and does not require a direct object (e.g., Everybody please stand up.).
a. escaparse
Somehow, my parrot managed to break out of his cage.De alguna manera, mi loro logró escaparse de su jaula.
b. fugarse
The soldier broke out of the prisoner camp by tunneling underneath the fence.El soldado se fugó del campamento de prisioneros haciendo un túnel por debajo de la valla.
c. salirse
The Beatles' success allowed them to experiment and break out of the mold.El éxito de los Beatles les permitió experimentar y salirse del molde.
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
Elisa started breaking out in hives from all the stress.A Elisa le empezaron a aparecer ronchas a causa del estrés.
That facial lotion you gave me made me break out really bad.Esa loción facial que me diste me hizo salir muchísimos granos.
b. dar
Luis broke out into a cold sweat when he saw the total on the restaurant bill.A Luis le dio un sudor frío cuando vio el total en la cuenta del restaurante.
a. estallar (figurative)
A phrase used as a figure of speech or a word that is symbolic in meaning; metaphorical (e.g., carrot, bean).
A fight broke out just as the bar was closing.Estalló una pelea justo cuando estaban cerrando el bar.
b. desencadenarse
Civil war broke out after the death of the dictator.Tras la muerte del dictador se desencadenó la guerra civil.
c. desatarse
Clashes broke out between demonstrators and police during the night.Durante la noche, se desataron enfrentamientos entre los manifestantes y la policía.
A transitive verb phrase is a phrase that combines a verb with a preposition or other particle and requires a direct object (e.g., take out the trash.).
4. (colloquial) (start using)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
a. sacar
At ten o'clock, they broke out the drums, and that's when the party really started.A las diez, sacaron los tambores, y fue entonces que se formó la rumba de verdad.
break(
breyk
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
b. quebrar (Latin America)
Regionalism used in Latin America: all the countries in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Does not include Spain.
I lied and said a customer broke the ornament.Mentí y dije que un cliente quebró el adorno.
2. (to injure)
a. romper
The plumber accidentally broke the boiler, and now we can't shower.El plomero accidentalmente rompió el calentador y no nos podemos duchar.
b. descomponer (Latin America)
Regionalism used in Latin America: all the countries in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Does not include Spain.
My husband broke the computer by spilling his cup of coffee on it.Mi marido descompuso la computadora regándola con su taza de café.
c. estropear
Charles broke my tablet and didn't even apologize.Charles estropeó mi tableta y ni siquiera se disculpó.
a. violar
These rules are not valid; they break the law on contracts.Estas normas no son válidas; violan la ley contractual.
b. infringir
We cannot tolerate anyone breaking the rules, or absolute chaos would prevail.No podemos tolerar que nadie infrinja las normas, o reinaría el caos más absoluto.
c. quebrantar
We lost the battle because the king broke his promise and didn't send his army.Perdimos la batalla porque el rey quebrantó su promesa y no envió a su ejército.
d. no acudir a
The chairman broke the meeting without giving advance notice.El presidente no acudió a la reunión sin avisar previamente.
5. (to impart)
6. (to tame)
a. domar
The horse trainer broke the horse so that it could be ridden.El domador domó al caballo para que aceptara a un jinete.
a. amortiguar
When the rider fell off his horse, a bush broke his fall.Cuando el jinete se cayó de su caballo, un arbusto amortiguó su caída.
8. (to surpass)
9. (finance)
a. quebrantar
This rejection letter will break the hopes of many students.Esta carta de rechazo quebrantará las esperanzas de muchos estudiantes.
11. (to interrupt)
12. (tennis)
a. romper
The player broke service twice in the third set.El jugador rompió el servicio dos veces en el tercer set.
14. (journalism)
a. difundir
Which was the first site to break the news?¿Cuál fue el primer sitio en difundir la noticia?
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
a. romperse
When the rope broke, they all fell to the floor.Cuando se rompió la cuerda, se cayeron todos al suelo.
b. quebrarse (Latin America)
Regionalism used in Latin America: all the countries in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Does not include Spain.
My heel broke in the middle of my presentation.Se me quebró el tacón a mitad de mi presentación.
16. (to give in)
a. desmoronarse
He broke when he was forced to face all the evidence there was against him.Se desmoronó cuando tuvo que enfrentarse a las pruebas en su contra.
17. (to begin)
18. (to change)
a. cambiar
In September the weather broke; fall had come.En septiembre cambió el tiempo, el otoño había llegado.
b. mudarse
His voice is breaking because he's a teenager.La voz le está mudando porque es un adolescente.
c. quebrarse
His voice broke when he told her about the accident.Su voz se quebró cuando le contó lo del accidente.
19. (to appear)
20. (to pause)
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
In half an hour, we'll break for coffee.En media hora, pararemos para tomar un café.
We always break to have lunch.Siempre hacemos un descanso para comer.
21. (billiards)
a. abrir el juego
He broke and the balls scattered all over the table.Abrió el juego y las bolas se dispersaron por toda la mesa.
A noun is a word referring to a person, animal, place, thing, feeling, or idea (e.g., man, dog, house).
a. el descanso (M)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
We had a break at noon for lunch.Nos tomamos un descanso a mediodía para comer.
b. las vacaciones (F)
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
Summer break ended too soon.Las vacaciones de verano acabaron demasiado pronto.
23. (medicine)
a. la fractura (F)
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
It looks like a bad break.Parece una fractura grave.
24. (chance)
a. la oportunidad (F)
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
This audition could be the break I've always dreamed of.Esta audición podría ser la oportunidad que siempre he soñado.
25. (disconnection)
26. (separation)
a. la ruptura (F)
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
She took the break in her stride.Se tomó la ruptura con calma.
27. (gap)
a. la abertura (F)
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
There was something hidden in the break of the wall.Había algo escondido en la abertura del muro.
28. (television)
29. (interruption)
a. la interrupción (F)
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
The boss announced a break in his schedule due to personal issues.El jefe anunció la interrupción de su agenda por problemas personales.
30. (break-out)
31. (tennis)
a. la ruptura (F)
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
The player made a decisive break of serve to win the set.El jugador realizó una ruptura de saque decisiva para ganar el set.
