How Do You Say Broken In Spanish

When learning a new language, discovering that a single English word fans out into a dozen different translations depending on context is both a challenge and a revelation. If you are wondering how do you say broken in Spanish, the short answer is that it usually translates to roto (masculine) or rota (feminine), but the reality is far more nuanced. Spanish distinguishes between an object that is physically shattered, a machine that refuses to start, a bone that has snapped, a heart that aches, or a promise that was never kept. Choosing the right term requires understanding the grammar of ser versus estar, the gender of the noun, and the specific idiom that native speakers reach for in daily life Turns out it matters..

The Core Translation: Roto and Rota

The most direct equivalent of “broken” is the past participle of the verb romper (to break). Because Spanish adjectives must agree in gender and number with the noun they modify, you will encounter four main forms:

• Roto – masculine singular (un vaso roto – a broken glass)
• Rota – feminine singular (una pierna rota – a broken leg)
• Rotos – masculine plural (los juguetes rotos – the broken toys)
• Rotas – feminine plural (las sillas rotas – the broken chairs)

This participle functions as an adjective describing the resulting state of an object after the action of breaking. Practically speaking, consequently, it almost always pairs with the verb estar rather than ser. Estar signals a condition that came about through an action and could theoretically be reversed (repaired), whereas ser would imply an inherent, permanent characteristic But it adds up..

Key Grammar Rule: Use estar + roto/a/os/as for physical condition.
Example: La ventana está rota. (The window is broken.)
Incorrect: *La ventana es rota.

Physical Objects: When Things Shatter, Crack, or Snap

While roto covers the general state of being in pieces, Spanish often uses more specific verbs and adjectives to describe how something broke. Precision here makes your speech sound natural rather than textbook-perfect No workaround needed..

1. Quebrado / Quebrada – Fractured, Cracked, or Bent

Quebrar implies a hard material snapping or fracturing without necessarily shattering into dozens of fragments. Think of a tree branch, a bone, a stiff plastic ruler, or a dried-out leather strap.

• La rama está quebrada. (The branch is snapped/cracked.)
• Tengo un dedo quebrado. (I have a broken/fractured finger.)

2. Rajado / Rajada – Split or Cracked Open

Rajar describes a long, clean split, usually along the grain or a seam. Wood, walls, lips, and tires are commonly rajados.

• La mesa está rajada por el medio. (The table is split down the middle.)
• Se me han rajado los labios del frío. (My lips are chapped/cracked from the cold.)

3. Añicos – Shattered into Smithereens

This noun (always plural in this usage) pairs with hacerse or estar hecho to underline total pulverization. Glass, ceramics, and mirrors se hacen añicos And that's really what it comes down to..

• El jarrón se hizo añicos al caer. (The vase shattered when it fell.)
• Los espejos están hechos añicos. (The mirrors are smashed to bits.)

4. Destrozado / Destrozada – Wrecked, Demolished, Torn Apart

Destruir or destrozar conveys violence or total ruin. A car after a major accident, a room after a burglary, or even a person’s emotional state can be destrozado.

• El coche quedó destrozado tras el choque. (The car was totaled/wrecked after the crash.)

Machines and Devices: “It’s Not Working”

English speakers say “My phone is broken” or “The car is broken” when a device simply malfunctions. In Spanish, roto works, but several other expressions are more idiomatic for mechanical or electronic failure.

Averiado / Averiada – Out of Order / Broken Down

This is the standard term for machinery, vehicles, appliances, and elevators. It implies a mechanical fault requiring professional repair.

• El ascensor está averiado. (The elevator is out of order.)
• Mi lavadora está averiada; llama al técnico. (My washing machine is broken down; call the technician.)

Estropeado / Estropeada – Spoiled, Damaged, Kaput

Estropear suggests something has been ruined through use, misuse, or time. It applies to engines, electronics, food, and even plans.

• El motor está estropeado. (The engine is shot/ruined.)
• Se me ha estropeado el móvil. (My phone broke/gave up on me.)

No funciona / No marcha – “It Doesn’t Work”

Often the most natural phrasing avoids an adjective entirely Simple, but easy to overlook..

• La impresora no funciona. (The printer isn’t working.)
• El coche no marcha. (The car won’t start / isn’t running.)

Body Parts and Health: Medical Nuances

When discussing injuries, the vocabulary shifts toward clinical precision. Using the wrong term might confuse a doctor or sound overly dramatic Simple as that..

Example dialogue at a clinic:

Doctor: ¿Qué le pasa?
Paciente: Me caí y creo que tengo el tobillo fracturado.
Doctor: Vamos a hacer una radiografía para confirmar si está roto o solo esguinzado.

Emotional and Abstract States: The Heart and Beyond

Spanish is rich with metaphors for emotional devastation. Translating “broken” literally as roto often works poetically, but specific idioms carry deeper cultural weight.

Corazón roto – Broken Heart

Universally understood, used in songs, literature, and daily conversation.

• Ella tiene el corazón roto desde que él se fue. (She has been heartbroken since he left.)

Hecho pedazos – Fallen to Pieces / Shattered

Stronger than roto. Used for morale, dreams, self-esteem, or a person’s physical exhaustion.

• Llegué a casa hecho pedazos después del examen. (I got home shattered/wrecked after the exam.)
• Sus ilusiones están hechas pedazos. (His hopes are shattered.)

Quebrado – Broken (Voice, Spirit, Health)

Colapsado / Colapsada – Collapsed, Overwhelmed

This term implies a complete failure or collapse, often due to extreme stress or pressure. It’s commonly used for systems, structures, or people pushed beyond their limits Which is the point..

• El sistema de salud está colapsado. (The healthcare system has collapsed.)
• El paciente llegó colapsado al hospital. (The patient collapsed upon arriving at the hospital.)

Descompuesto / Descompuesta – In Disarray, Out of Order

Descompuesto conveys a state of disorganization or malfunction, whether for objects, plans, or even people.

• La situación está descompuesta. (The situation is in chaos.)
• El equipo técnico está descompuesto. (The technical team is in disarray.)

Conclusion: Context is Key

Spanish offers a spectrum of terms to express “broken,” each shaped by context, tone, and cultural nuance. While roto or rotos may suffice in casual speech, medical, technical, or emotional scenarios demand precision. Fracturado ensures clarity in clinics, estropeado captures mechanical failure, and hecho pedazos conveys emotional devastation. Mastering these distinctions not only improves communication but also reflects the richness of Spanish as a language that tailors meaning to the situation. Whether describing a stalled car or a shattered dream, choosing the right word ensures your message is understood—and felt—exactly as intended.