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"Quebrarse" is a pronominal verb which is often translated as "to break", and "romper" is a transitive verb which is also often translated as "to break". Learn more about the difference between "quebrarse" and "romper" below.
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.
romper(
rrohm
-
pehr
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
1. (to smash)
a. to wear out
Vas a romper el controlador de tanto usarlo.You're going to wear out the controller from using it so much.
3. (to disobey)
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
a. to break
Las olas rompieron contra el casco de nuestro barco.The waves broke against the hull of our ship.
5. (to start)
a. to break out
Cuando el hombre cayó muerto, la multitud rompió a gritar.When the man dropped dead, the crowd started screaming.
a. to break up
Felipe y Sol rompieron después de tres años de noviazgo.Felipe and Sol broke up after going out for three years.
romperse
A reflexive verb is a verb that indicates that the subject performs an action on itself (e.g., Miguel se lava.).
7. (to injure)
a. to break
En su primer partido, el futbolista se rompió la pierna.In his first game, the soccer player broke his leg.
A pronominal verb always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g., Te ves cansado.).
8. (to smash)
a. to break
Creo que la radio se rompió porque solo oigo interferencias.I think the radio is broken because all I hear is this buzzing.
