romperse (spanish) - meaning, definition, translation, pronunciation

Part of Speech

The word "romperse" is a verb in Spanish.

Phonetic Transcription

/romˈpeɾ.se/

Translation Options into English

• to break
• to break oneself

Meaning and Usage

The word "romperse" is a reflexive verb form of "romper," which means "to break." When used reflexively, it indicates that the subject is breaking itself, often used in the context of injuries or accidents.

In everyday language, "romperse" can refer to various contexts like breaking bones, tearing muscles, or even metaphorically breaking one's heart. It is commonly used in both oral and written contexts, particularly in informal spoken language.

Frequency of Use

"Romperse" is quite frequently used in everyday Spanish, especially in conversations related to accidents, injuries, sports, or emotional distress.

Example Sentences

1. Se rompió la pierna mientras jugaba fútbol.
   (He broke his leg while playing soccer.)

2. Ella se rompió el corazón cuando se enteró de la noticia.
   (She broke her heart when she heard the news.)

3. Espero no romperme nada en la competencia.
   (I hope I don’t break anything in the competition.)

Idiomatic Expressions

"Romperse" is also part of various idiomatic expressions in Spanish.

1. Romperse la cabeza
   Meaning: To think very hard about something.
   He tenido que romperme la cabeza para resolver ese problema.
   (I had to break my head to solve that problem.)

2. Romperse la voz
   Meaning: To lose one's voice or to speak excessively.
   Se rompió la voz gritando durante el concierto.
   (He lost his voice from shouting during the concert.)

3. Romperse en mil pedazos
   Meaning: To break into a thousand pieces, often used metaphorically for emotional distress or heartbreak.
   Después de la ruptura, su mundo se rompió en mil pedazos.
   (After the breakup, her world broke into a thousand pieces.)

4. No hay que romperse el coco
   Meaning: There's no need to overthink or worry.
   Para ese examen, no hay que romperse el coco; con estudiar un poco es suficiente.
   (For that exam, there's no need to overthink; studying a bit is enough.)

Etymology

The verb "romper" comes from Latin "rumpere," which means "to break." The reflexive form "romperse" indicates that the action of breaking is performed by the subject on itself.

Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonyms

• Fracturarse (to fracture)
• Desgarrarse (to tear oneself)
• Dañarse (to injure oneself)

Antonyms

• Reforzarse (to strengthen)
• Curarse (to heal)
• Construirse (to build oneself)

This comprehensive examination of "romperse" illustrates its versatility in the Spanish language and its relevance in various contexts.