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"Fracturar" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "to fracture", and "quebrarse" is a pronominal verb which is often translated as "to break". Learn more about the difference between "fracturar" and "quebrarse" below.
fracturar(
frahk
-
too
-
rahr
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
1. (to crack)
a. to fracture
El violento impacto le fracturó las piernas al piloto.The violent collision fractured the driver's legs.
b. to break
Los mafiosos le fracturaron los dedos para que hablara.The mobsters broke his fingers to make him talk.
fracturarse
A pronominal verb always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g., Te ves cansado.).
2. (to break)
quebrarse(
keh
-
brahr
-
seh
)A pronominal verb always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g., Te ves cansado.).
1. (to smash)
quebrar
A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
2. (to smash)
3. (legal)
a. to break
"Sra. Rodríguez, su hija quebró varias leyes este fin de semana," dijo el oficial."Mrs. Rodriguez, your daughter broke several laws this weekend," said the official.
a. to bend
No creo que vayas a poder quebrar ese tubo de plástico.I don't think you're going to be able to bend that plastic tube.
5. (colloquial) (to kill) (Central America)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in Central America: Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama
a. to off (colloquial)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Quebraron al socio por mentir al jefe.They offed the partner for lying to the boss.
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
a. to go bankrupt
La empresa de mi cuñado casi quebró el año pasado.My brother's company nearly went bankrupt last year.
b. to fail
Quebraron muchos negocios después de la crisis económica.Many businesses failed after the economic crisis.
