corazón roto
/koɾaθon ɾoto/from spelling rules
The English phrase heartbreak can be translated into Spanish as corazón roto. Wiktionary also lists corazón destrozado.
Meaning: anguish (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| corazón roto | /koɾaθon ɾoto/ (Spain, from spelling rules) /koɾason ɾoto/ (Latin America, from spelling rules) |
| corazón destrozado | /koɾaθon destɾoθado/ (Spain, from spelling rules) /koɾason destɾosado/ (Latin America, from spelling rules) |
You may also use ruptura amorosa to refer specifically to a romantic breakup.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase corazón roto is a literal translation of 'broken heart', consisting of corazón (heart) and roto (broken).
Which one should you use?
corazón destrozado is used to express a stronger, more intense level of heartbreak, conveying a sense of being shattered or devastated.
How does it change in a sentence?
To express the plural 'broken hearts', you must change both the noun and the adjective to corazones rotos.
How do you pronounce it?
/koɾaθon ɾoto/
Did you know?
- While 'broken heart' is a common metaphor in English, Spanish speakers often use the phrase partirse el alma (to break one's soul) to express the same level of profound heartbreak.
- While English speakers use 'broken heart' to describe sadness, a Spaniard might say they have el corazón en un hilo to describe the anxiety of a precarious emotional state.
- The word corazón shares a distant linguistic ancestor with the English word 'core', as both trace back to the Latin word for heart, cor.
Examples in context
- Su corazón roto la dejó sin palabras.Her heartbreak left her speechless.
Example conversation
Mateo and Lucía are talking about a sad movie.
- MateoEsa película termina con un corazón roto.That movie ends with a heartbreak.
- LucíaSí, fue una escena muy triste.Yes, it was a very sad scene.
- MateoNo me gusta ver ese dolor.I don't like seeing that pain.
- LucíaYo también, Lucía está muy afectada.Me neither, Lucía is very affected.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “heartbreak” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries corazón, roto, CC BY-SA 4.0.
