Explanation at your level:
If you drop a cup, it is broken. It is in many pieces. You cannot drink from it. A broken toy does not play music. If your phone is broken, you cannot call your friends. It is a sad word because it means something is not working.
We use broken to describe things that are damaged. For example, 'The window is broken because a ball hit it.' We also use it for people, like 'He has a broken arm.' It is important to know that broken is the past participle of the verb 'break'.
In this level, we use broken for abstract things. You can have a broken promise or a broken heart. It describes a situation where trust or feelings are hurt. It is also used to describe someone's level of language, like 'She speaks broken English,' meaning she makes many mistakes.
The term broken often implies a failure of a system or a social norm. We talk about broken homes or a broken economy. It suggests that the structure is no longer functioning as intended. It is a strong word that carries a sense of disappointment or systemic failure in professional contexts.
At an advanced level, broken is used to convey nuance about fragmentation and lost potential. We might discuss broken narratives in literature or broken lines of communication in diplomacy. It captures the essence of something that was once whole but has been irrevocably altered. The word acts as a bridge between physical damage and metaphysical decay.
Historically and literarily, broken evokes the concept of being 'crushed' or 'humbled.' In deep philosophical texts, it may refer to a broken spirit or a broken will, suggesting a total loss of agency. Etymologically, it connects to the act of 'breaching' or 'bursting.' It is a word that carries the weight of history—from the literal breaking of bread in ancient times to the modern, metaphorical broken dreams of a complex society.
الكلمة في 30 ثانية
- Broken means damaged.
- It is a past participle.
- It describes objects and feelings.
- Use 'completely' to intensify it.
When we say something is broken, we usually mean it has been damaged or is no longer working. Think of a broken plate on the floor or a broken toy that won't turn on. It is a very common word that helps us describe things that are not in their original, perfect state.
Beyond physical objects, we use broken to talk about abstract things too. You might hear about a broken promise, which means someone didn't do what they said they would. We also use it to describe systems, like a broken legal system, implying that it is failing to be fair or effective. It is a powerful word because it highlights a gap between how things are and how they should be.
The word broken comes from the Old English word brocen, which is the past participle of the verb brecan, meaning to break or shatter. It shares roots with many Germanic languages, such as the German brechen and the Dutch breken.
Historically, the word has always carried the sense of forceful separation. Over centuries, the meaning expanded from just physical destruction to include metaphorical ideas like broken hearts or broken spirits. It is fascinating how a word that started as a simple description of smashing wood or stone became a way to describe human emotions and complex social failures.
You will use broken in almost every part of your daily life. It is very versatile! We often pair it with nouns like broken glass, broken window, or broken leg. These are all physical examples where the object is literally in pieces or injured.
In more formal or professional settings, you might talk about a broken contract or a broken agreement. These phrases carry a serious tone because they imply a failure of trust or duty. Whether you are talking to a friend about a broken phone or writing an essay about a broken social structure, the word fits perfectly.
Broken appears in many famous English idioms. 1) A broken record: someone who keeps saying the same thing. 2) Broken heart: intense emotional pain. 3) Straw that broke the camel's back: the final small problem that causes a total collapse. 4) Broken English: speaking a language with many grammar mistakes. 5) Broken home: a family situation where parents are separated or divorced.
As an adjective, broken is usually placed before a noun (a broken chair) or after a linking verb (the chair is broken). It is not a gradable adjective, so we rarely say 'very broken'—instead, we use words like 'partially' or 'completely' broken.
The pronunciation is /ˈbroʊkən/. The stress is on the first syllable. It rhymes with words like token, spoken, awoken, woken, and oaken. Practice the 'o' sound clearly to sound natural!
Fun Fact
The word has been in use since before the 12th century.
Pronunciation Guide
Clear 'o' sound followed by schwa.
Diphthong 'o' followed by schwa.
Common Errors
- pronouncing the 'k' too hard
- ignoring the schwa
- stressing the second syllable
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
easy
easy
easy
easy
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
متقدم
Grammar to Know
Past Participle as Adjective
The broken glass.
Linking Verbs
It is broken.
Adverbs of Degree
Completely broken.
Examples by Level
The plate is broken.
plate = dish
adjective after verb
My toy is broken.
toy = plaything
possessive adjective
Is the light broken?
light = lamp
question form
I have a broken pen.
pen = writing tool
adjective before noun
The chair is broken.
chair = seat
simple state
My phone is broken.
phone = mobile
common daily object
Don't touch the broken glass.
glass = window/cup material
imperative sentence
The door is broken.
door = entrance
state of object
The window was broken during the storm.
He has a broken leg from skiing.
Can you fix this broken watch?
The elevator is broken again.
She felt like a broken person.
The vase is broken into pieces.
They found a broken lock on the gate.
My computer is broken and won't start.
He made a broken promise to his friend.
She speaks broken Spanish with her neighbors.
The company has a broken business model.
They are living in a broken home.
I heard a broken sound coming from the engine.
The peace treaty was broken by the rebels.
He has a broken spirit after the loss.
The system is completely broken.
The negotiation process was broken by mistrust.
She felt a sense of broken dreams after the failure.
The data was corrupted and broken during the transfer.
He is a broken man after the scandal.
The social contract is broken in this city.
They tried to repair the broken relationship.
A broken line of communication caused the delay.
The clock is broken beyond repair.
The narrative structure of the novel is intentionally broken.
He suffered from a broken sense of reality.
The historical record is broken by missing documents.
Their alliance was broken by political greed.
The aesthetic is one of broken beauty.
She felt the weight of a broken legacy.
The logic of his argument is fundamentally broken.
The silence was broken by a loud cry.
The poet writes of a broken world in decay.
His psyche was broken by years of isolation.
The societal fabric is broken in this region.
She witnessed the broken remnants of the empire.
The melody was broken by dissonant chords.
His will was broken by the harsh conditions.
The chain of command was broken during the crisis.
The mirror reflected a broken image of the past.
المرادفات
الأضداد
تلازمات شائعة
Idioms & Expressions
"a broken record"
someone who repeats the same thing
Stop saying that, you sound like a broken record!
casual"the straw that broke the camel's back"
the final problem in a series
This bill was the straw that broke the camel's back.
neutral"broken heart"
intense sadness
He left her with a broken heart.
neutral"broken English"
imperfect language skills
They communicated in broken English.
neutral"broken home"
family with separated parents
She grew up in a broken home.
neutral"broken spirit"
loss of hope
Years of work left him with a broken spirit.
literaryEasily Confused
Past tense verb vs adjective.
Broke is the action, broken is the state.
I broke the glass; the glass is broken.
Present participle.
Breaking is the process.
The glass is breaking right now.
Noun form.
Breakage is the result or amount.
The breakage was minimal.
Stronger synonym.
Shattered is more intense.
The mirror is shattered.
Sentence Patterns
Subject + is + broken
The toy is broken.
Subject + has + a + broken + noun
He has a broken arm.
The + broken + noun + is + adjective
The broken chair is old.
It + is + completely + broken
The phone is completely broken.
A + broken + noun + causes + noun
A broken pipe causes leaks.
عائلة الكلمة
Nouns
Verbs
Adjectives
مرتبط
How to Use It
9/10
Formality Scale
أخطاء شائعة
Broken is not a gradable adjective.
Incorrect spelling of the participle.
Adverbs cannot modify nouns.
Need the past participle.
Use badly for damage.
Tips
Memory Palace
Visualize a broken item in every room.
Native usage
Use it for anything that stops working.
Cultural Insight
Broken heart is a universal metaphor.
Grammar Shortcut
It is a past participle.
Say It Right
Focus on the 'o' sound.
Don't Make This Mistake
Avoid 'very broken'.
Did You Know?
It is a Germanic root word.
Study Smart
Use it in sentences about your day.
Writing Tip
Use it to add drama to stories.
Speaking Tip
Use it to describe tech issues.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
B-R-O-K-E-N: Big Rocks Often Keep Everyone Near.
Visual Association
A mirror cracked into many pieces.
Word Web
تحدٍّ
List 5 things in your room that are broken.
أصل الكلمة
Old English
Original meaning: shattered or fractured
السياق الثقافي
Can be sensitive when describing people's mental health.
Used frequently in emotional and physical contexts.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
at home
- broken appliance
- broken window
- broken furniture
at work
- broken process
- broken contract
- broken link
travel
- broken suitcase
- broken seat
- broken lock
relationships
- broken heart
- broken trust
- broken bond
Conversation Starters
"What is the last thing you saw that was broken?"
"Have you ever had a broken bone?"
"What do you do when your phone is broken?"
"Can you fix broken things easily?"
"Do you think society is broken?"
Journal Prompts
Write about a time you felt broken.
Describe a broken object in your house.
How do you fix broken promises?
Write about a broken dream.
الأسئلة الشائعة
8 أسئلةNo, it is the past participle used as an adjective.
No, use 'completely' or 'badly'.
Yes, it can be offensive.
Intact or functional.
No, it is an adjective.
Yes, for systems or contracts.
BRO-ken.
Extremely common.
اختبر نفسك
The vase is ___.
Vases break easily.
Which means damaged?
Broken means damaged.
A broken heart is a physical injury.
It is an emotional state.
Word
المعنى
Matches idioms to meanings.
Adverbs modify adjectives.
النتيجة: /5
Summary
Broken describes anything that has lost its original, functional, or whole state.
- Broken means damaged.
- It is a past participle.
- It describes objects and feelings.
- Use 'completely' to intensify it.
Memory Palace
Visualize a broken item in every room.
Native usage
Use it for anything that stops working.
Cultural Insight
Broken heart is a universal metaphor.
Grammar Shortcut
It is a past participle.
مثال
The child cried over his broken toy, hoping his father could glue it back together.
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عبارات ذات صلة
مزيد من كلمات Other
abate
C1يعني أن يصبح الشيء أقل حدة أو قوة. يستخدم غالباً لوصف تراجع الظواهر الطبيعية أو المشاعر القوية.
abcarndom
C1الانحراف عمداً عن تسلسل ثابت أو نمط محدد لصالح نهج عشوائي أو غير خطي، وغالباً ما يُستخدم في السياقات التقنية.
abcenthood
C1The state, condition, or period of being absent, particularly in a role where one's presence is expected or required. It often refers to a prolonged or systemic lack of participation in a social, parental, or professional capacity.
abcitless
C1هو حالة يكون فيها نقص جوهري يمنع اكتمال الفكرة أو الخطة بشكل منطقي.
abcognacy
C1The state of being unaware or lacking knowledge about a specific subject, situation, or fact. It describes a condition of non-recognition or a gap in cognitive awareness, often used in technical or specialized academic contexts.
abdocion
C1تصف حركة أو قوة أو عملية منطقية تبتعد عن محور مركزي. تُستخدم في سياقات تقنية لوصف الابتعاد عن المركز.
abdocly
C1يصف مصطلح Abdocly الأشياء المخفية أو المتراجعة للداخل والتي لا يمكن رؤيتها بوضوح للوهلة الأولى.
aberration
B2A departure from what is normal, usual, or expected, typically one that is unwelcome. It refers to a temporary change or a deviation from the standard path or rule.
abfacible
C1To systematically strip or remove the external surface or facade of a structure or material for analysis, restoration, or cleaning. It specifically refers to the technical act of uncovering underlying layers while preserving the integrity of the core material.
abfactency
C1يصف حالة الانفصال التام عن الحقائق أو الواقع الموضوعي. يُستخدم غالباً لوصف الحجج أو النظريات التي تبدو منطقية لكنها لا تمت للواقع بصلة.
