chica rota
/t͡ʃika ɾota/from spelling rules
The English phrase "broken girl" is translated into Spanish as chica rota.
This phrase is used to describe a girl or young woman who is emotionally devastated or traumatized by past experiences.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of chica (girl) and rota (broken).
How does it change in a sentence?
Because chica is a feminine noun, the adjective must be the feminine form rota rather than the masculine roto.
How do you pronounce it?
/tʃika ɾota/
Did you know?
- Unlike English, where 'broken' can describe a person's spirit, using rota for a person can sometimes be interpreted as a vulgar reference to a loss of virginity depending on the region.
- In some Latin American dialects, calling a person roto or rota historically referred to someone from a lower social class or a 'ragged' person, rather than someone emotionally damaged.
- The word rota shares a common ancestor with the English word 'rupture', meaning both words trace back to the Latin 'ruptus', signifying something that has been burst or broken.
Examples in context
- La chica destrozada no pudo superar la traición de su mejor amiga.The broken girl could not overcome the betrayal of her best friend.
- Ella parece una chica rota por dentro.She seems like a broken girl inside.
Example conversation
Mateo and Elena are talking about a character in a book.
- MateoLa protagonista parece una chica rota.The protagonist seems like a broken girl.
- ElenaSí, Elena cree que tiene mucho trauma.Yes, Elena believes she has a lot of trauma.
- MateoEs triste ver a una chica rota así.It is sad to see a broken girl like that.
- ElenaEspero que encuentre la paz pronto.I hope she finds peace soon.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries rota, CC BY-SA 4.0.
