Which one should you use?
While quebrado often refers to physical breakage, estragado is more commonly used for food that is spoiled or for machines that are malfunctioning. Additionally, for electronic devices that simply won't turn on, using estragado or com defeito is often more natural than using quebrado.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Portugal, the word partido is often used instead of quebrado to mean broken.
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective must agree in gender and number with the noun it modifies. Use quebrada for feminine singular nouns, quebrados for masculine plural nouns and quebradas for feminine plural nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has three syllables and the stress is on the second syllable: /keˈbɾa.du/.
What mistakes should you avoid?
In Brazil, if you want to informally say that a vehicle has broken down or stopped working, you can use the verb pifar.
Did you know?
- In Brazil, if you are 'broken' in the sense of being completely out of money, you say you are quebrado.
- The term quebrado is used in mathematics to describe 'broken numbers' or fractions, known as números quebrados.
- While quebrado means broken, the word quebrantado is used in poetic or religious contexts to describe a broken spirit or heart.
Examples in context
- O rádio está quebrado.The radio is broken.This is useful for stating that a radio is broken.Tatoeba #1683749 by alexmarcelo, translation #374597 by CK
- O ônibus está quebrado?Is the bus broken?This is useful for asking if a bus is broken.Tatoeba #3658368 by Ricardo14, translation #3659232 by Ricardo14
- O ônibus está quebrado!The bus is broken!This is useful for exclaiming that a bus is broken.Tatoeba #3658369 by Ricardo14, translation #3659231 by Ricardo14
- O objeto está quebradoThe object is broken.
- A máquina está inutilizadaThe machine is broken and can't be used.
- O computador pifouThe computer broke down.
- O vidro está partidoThe glass is broken.
- O vaso está quebrado.The vase is broken.
- Meu carro pifou.My car broke down.
- O brinquedo está estragado.The toy is ruined.
- 86 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Gabriel is trying to fix a small appliance in the living room.
- MarianaO que aconteceu com o liquidificador?What happened to the blender?
- GabrielEle está quebrado, Mariana.It is broken, Mariana.
- MarianaVocê consegue consertar?Can you fix it?
- GabrielNão, acho que está quebrado de vez.No, I think it is broken for good.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry quebrado, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
