fracturar
When we talk about fracturar, we're specifically referring to breaking something hard, like a bone or a sturdy object. It's more precise than just saying 'romper' in these contexts. Imagine a doctor telling you that you've 'fracturado' a bone, or if a strong impact 'fractura' a piece of equipment.
You might hear it in sentences like: 'El accidente de bicicleta le fracturó la pierna' (The bike accident fractured his leg) or 'La caída fracturó el cristal del teléfono' (The fall cracked the phone screen). It implies a significant break or crack, often with structural damage.
§ What does fracturar mean?
Alright, let's talk about the Spanish verb fracturar. This is a practical word to know, and it's pretty straightforward. At its core, fracturar means 'to break' or 'to crack,' specifically when we're talking about something hard. Think bones, rocks, or even a hard surface.
- Definition
- To break or crack (a bone or hard object).
You might be thinking, 'Wait, aren't there other words for 'to break' in Spanish?' And you'd be right! Spanish has several verbs that can mean 'to break,' and that's where being practical comes in. Fracturar is used in specific contexts. It carries a sense of a clean, sharp break or a significant crack, especially in medical or geological contexts.
§ When do people use fracturar?
The most common scenario where you'll hear or use fracturar is when talking about injuries, particularly bone fractures. If someone breaks an arm or a leg, fracturar is the go-to verb. It's the technical and correct term for a bone breaking.
El jugador se fracturó la pierna durante el partido. (The player fractured his leg during the game.)
You'll also hear it for other hard objects. Think about things like:
- Rocks or geological formations: Earthquakes can fracturar the ground.
- Hard materials in construction: A poorly built wall might fracturar under pressure.
- Certain types of equipment: If a hard plastic component in a machine breaks, you could use fracturar.
Let's look at another example:
El impacto hizo que la roca se fracturara en dos. (The impact caused the rock to fracture in two.)
So, when you're talking about a bone, a rock, or anything else that's solid and rigid experiencing a break or a significant crack, fracturar is your word. Keep it in your vocabulary toolkit for those specific, practical situations.
Aussprachehilfe
- pronouncing the 'r' too hard at the end
- not rolling the 'r' sufficiently
Wichtige Grammatik
Fracturar is a regular -ar verb. Conjugate it like other regular -ar verbs. For example, in the present tense, 'yo fracturo,' 'tú fracturas,' etc.
La caída le fracturó la pierna. (The fall broke his leg.)
It's often used reflexively (fracturarse) when a person breaks a part of their own body. This emphasizes that the person sustained the injury.
Se fracturó el brazo jugando al fútbol. (He broke his arm playing soccer.)
When talking about an object breaking, 'fracturar' can be used directly with the object as a direct object.
El impacto fracturó el cristal. (The impact cracked the glass.)
It can be used in the passive voice, especially with 'ser' + past participle, to describe something that has been broken.
La roca fue fracturada por la presión. (The rock was fractured by the pressure.)
Be careful with context. While 'fracturar' specifically means to break a bone or hard object, 'romper' is a more general verb for breaking anything. Don't use 'fracturar' for breaking something like a promise or a heart.
No digas 'fracturar una promesa,' di 'romper una promesa.' (Don't say 'to fracture a promise,' say 'to break a promise.')
Beispiele nach Niveau
El niño se puede fracturar un brazo.
The boy can break an arm.
No quiero fracturar mi teléfono nuevo.
I don't want to break my new phone.
Es fácil fracturar un huevo.
It's easy to crack an egg.
Si te caes, puedes fracturar una pierna.
If you fall, you can break a leg.
El hielo se puede fracturar si es muy delgado.
The ice can crack if it's very thin.
Hay que tener cuidado para no fracturar la ventana.
You have to be careful not to break the window.
Mi abuela se fracturó la cadera.
My grandmother broke her hip.
El jarrón se fracturó cuando se cayó.
The vase broke when it fell.
Se puede fracturar un hueso en un accidente de coche.
You can break a bone in a car accident.
El impacto fue tan fuerte que logró fracturar la roca.
The impact was so strong that it managed to crack the rock.
Si te caes, hay riesgo de fracturarse la muñeca.
If you fall, there's a risk of breaking your wrist.
Here, 'fracturarse' is reflexive, meaning 'to break one's own...'.
Intentó levantar la caja pesada y sintió que algo se le fracturaba en la espalda.
He tried to lift the heavy box and felt something in his back break.
The 'se le' construction indicates an accidental or involuntary action.
La presión constante puede fracturar incluso el material más resistente.
Constant pressure can fracture even the most resistant material.
Después de la caída, el médico confirmó que se había fracturado la pierna.
After the fall, the doctor confirmed that he had broken his leg.
Es importante no fracturar la confianza entre amigos.
It's important not to break the trust between friends.
Figurative use of 'fracturar'.
Las paredes viejas suelen fracturarse con el tiempo.
Old walls tend to crack over time.
The reflexive form 'fracturarse' is used when the object breaks by itself.
Grammatikmuster
Satzmuster
Él se fracturó [parte del cuerpo].
Él se fracturó la pierna. (He fractured his leg.)
Yo me fracturé [parte del cuerpo].
Yo me fracturé el brazo. (I fractured my arm.)
[Sujeto] fracturó [objeto].
El golpe fracturó el cristal. (The blow fractured the glass.)
[Objeto] se fracturó.
La roca se fracturó en muchos pedazos. (The rock fractured into many pieces.)
Es posible que [sujeto] se fracture [parte del cuerpo] si [condición].
Es posible que un atleta se fracture una costilla si practica deportes extremos. (It's possible for an athlete to fracture a rib if they practice extreme sports.)
Tener [condición] puede hacer que [objeto] se fracture fácilmente.
Tener osteoporosis puede hacer que los huesos se fracturen fácilmente. (Having osteoporosis can make bones fracture easily.)
Se fracturó [parte del cuerpo] debido a [causa].
Se fracturó la muñeca debido a una caída. (He fractured his wrist due to a fall.)
Los médicos dicen que [sujeto] tiene una fractura en [parte del cuerpo].
Los médicos dicen que ella tiene una fractura en el pie. (The doctors say she has a fracture in her foot.)
Tipps
Basic Meaning of 'Fracturar'
Remember that 'fracturar' generally means to break or to crack, specifically in the context of bones or other hard objects.
Common Use Cases for 'Fracturar'
You'll most often hear 'fracturar' in medical contexts, like 'fracturarse un hueso' (to fracture a bone), or when talking about damage to hard, inanimate objects, like 'la pared se fracturó' (the wall cracked).
Don't Confuse with 'Romper'
While similar, 'fracturar' implies a more severe break or crack than 'romper'. 'Romper' can mean to break anything, even something soft like a glass or a heart. 'Fracturar' is usually for hard, solid things.
Reflexive Form: 'Fracturarse'
When someone breaks their own bone, use the reflexive form: 'Me fracturé la pierna' (I broke my leg). This is very common.
Past Tense Usage
For past events, you'll use the preterite: 'Se fracturó el brazo' (He broke his arm) or 'La roca se fracturó' (The rock broke).
Noun Form: 'Fractura'
The noun form is 'fractura', meaning a fracture or a crack. For example, 'una fractura de tibia' (a tibia fracture).
Examples of Use
Practice with sentences: 'El impacto fracturó el parabrisas.' (The impact cracked the windshield.) 'No te caigas, podrías fracturarte.' (Don't fall, you could break something.)
Not for General Breaking
Don't use 'fracturar' for things like breaking a promise ('romper una promesa') or breaking a record ('romper un récord'). It's specific to physical breaks.
Medical Context
In Spanish-speaking countries, if someone mentions 'una fractura', it almost always refers to a broken bone. It's a common term in hospitals and clinics.
Figurative Use (Rare)
While rare, 'fracturar' can sometimes be used figuratively to mean to break apart or to divide a group or an idea, but stick to the literal meaning for now as a B1 learner.
Einprägen
Eselsbrücke
Think of a 'fracture' in English. 'Fracturar' sounds very similar and means the same thing when talking about breaking things like bones.
Visuelle Assoziation
Imagine a doctor in a hospital. They are looking at an X-ray of a broken bone. The doctor points to the break and says, '¡Oh no, se fracturó!' (Oh no, it broke!). Visualize the 'fracture' on the bone.
Word Web
Herausforderung
Try to form three sentences using 'fracturar'. For example, 'Mi amigo se ______ el dedo.' (My friend broke his finger.)
Teste dich selbst 78 Fragen
El niño se puede ___ un hueso si se cae del árbol.
The sentence talks about a child falling from a tree and hurting a bone, so 'fracturar' (to break) is the correct verb.
No uses esa silla vieja, se puede ___.
The sentence warns about an old chair, implying it could break. 'Fracturar' means to break or crack.
Mi abuela no quiere ___ el brazo.
The context is about an arm, and 'fracturar' (to break) fits the idea of not wanting to hurt it.
Es fácil ___ el vaso si lo dejas caer.
A glass is a fragile object that can easily break if dropped. 'Fracturar' is the appropriate verb here.
El doctor dijo que ella se puede ___ la pierna.
Doctors talk about injuries like breaking a leg. 'Fracturar' means to break or crack a bone.
No golpees la pared, se puede ___.
Hitting a wall can cause it to crack or break. 'Fracturar' is the correct word to describe this.
Which word means 'to break' or 'to crack'?
'Fracturar' specifically means to break or crack, often referring to bones or hard objects. The other options mean 'to eat,' 'to sleep,' and 'to talk,' respectively.
If you fall and hurt your arm, what might happen to a bone?
If you hurt your arm, a bone might 'fracturar' (break). The other options (cook, read, sing) do not make sense in this context.
Which sentence uses 'fracturar' correctly?
'Fracturar' applies to hard objects like a window that can be broken. The other options are illogical.
You can 'fracturar' a soft pillow.
'Fracturar' is used for hard objects or bones. A soft pillow cannot be 'fractured' in this sense.
If a doctor says 'su hueso está fracturado', it means your bone is broken.
'Fracturado' is the past participle of 'fracturar,' meaning 'broken' or 'fractured.'
You use 'fracturar' to say you are going to eat a sandwich.
'Fracturar' means to break or crack. To eat a sandwich, you would use verbs like 'comer'.
Write a short sentence about someone breaking a glass.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Yo puedo fracturar el vaso.
Imagine you dropped your phone and the screen cracked. Write a simple sentence in Spanish describing what happened.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Mi teléfono puede fracturar la pantalla.
Write a sentence saying that a small branch can break easily.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
La rama puede fracturar.
¿Qué puede fracturar?
Read this passage:
El niño juega con una pelota. La pelota golpea la ventana. La ventana puede fracturar.
¿Qué puede fracturar?
The passage states that the window can break (fracturar).
The passage states that the window can break (fracturar).
¿Qué no puede fracturar?
Read this passage:
María tiene un juguete de madera. Se cae el juguete. El juguete no puede fracturar.
¿Qué no puede fracturar?
The passage says the toy does not break (no puede fracturar).
The passage says the toy does not break (no puede fracturar).
¿Qué parte del cuerpo puede fracturar el hombre?
Read this passage:
El doctor habla con el hombre. El hombre se cae. Su brazo puede fracturar.
¿Qué parte del cuerpo puede fracturar el hombre?
The passage mentions that his arm (brazo) can break.
The passage mentions that his arm (brazo) can break.
This sentence means 'The bone broke.'
This sentence means 'I don't want to break the glass.'
This sentence means 'He could break his leg.'
El jugador de fútbol se va a ___ la pierna si no tiene cuidado. (The soccer player is going to ___ his leg if he's not careful.)
The context implies an injury, and 'fracturar' (to break/fracture) fits perfectly with 'la pierna' (the leg).
Con ese golpe, es posible que el hueso se pueda ___. (With that blow, it's possible that the bone could ___.)
Here, 'fracturar' is used in the infinitive form after 'poder' (to be able to), indicating the potential for the bone to break.
Es importante no ___ las reglas del juego. (It's important not to ___ the rules of the game.)
While 'fracturar' means to break, it's typically used for bones or hard objects. For rules, 'romper' (to break/violate) is the correct verb.
Si te caes de la bicicleta, podrías ___ un brazo. (If you fall off the bicycle, you could ___ an arm.)
Falling from a bicycle can lead to breaking a bone, so 'fracturar' (to fracture) is the appropriate word here.
El médico le dijo que tenía que cuidar su pierna para no ___la de nuevo. (The doctor told him he had to take care of his leg so as not to ___ it again.)
The context of a doctor and a leg suggests preventing a re-injury, so 'fracturar' (to fracture) is correct.
La piedra es tan dura que es difícil de ___. (The stone is so hard that it's difficult to ___.)
For a hard object like a stone, 'fracturar' (to break/crack) is an appropriate verb to describe breaking it.
Choose the best translation for 'fracturar'.
The verb 'fracturar' means to break or crack, usually referring to a bone or a hard object.
Which sentence uses 'fracturar' correctly?
You can 'fracture' a bone, like an arm. The other options don't make sense with the meaning of 'fracturar'.
What is a common object that can be 'fracturado'?
'Fracturar' is commonly used for bones or hard objects. Bones fit this description.
You can use 'fracturar' to say you broke a glass.
Yes, 'fracturar' can be used for breaking hard objects like glass.
If you 'fracturas' a friendship, it means you've made it stronger.
'Fracturar' implies breaking or damaging. A fractured friendship would be weakened, not strengthened.
A doctor might say 'Se fracturó la pierna' (He fractured his leg) to a patient.
This is a common and correct usage of 'fracturar' in a medical context.
This sentence describes someone breaking their leg while playing soccer. The order starts with the subject 'Él' (He), followed by the reflexive pronoun 'se' and the verb 'fracturó' (broke). Then comes the object 'la pierna' (the leg) and the action 'jugando al fútbol' (playing soccer).
This sentence talks about the ease of breaking a bone without care. It begins with 'Es fácil' (It's easy), followed by the infinitive 'fracturar' (to break) and the object 'un hueso' (a bone). The condition 'si no tienes cuidado' (if you don't have care) completes the thought.
This sentence explains that a fall caused a wrist fracture. It starts with 'La caída' (The fall) as the subject, followed by 'le hizo' (made him/her) and the infinitive 'fracturar' (to break). Finally, 'la muñeca' (the wrist) is the object that was broken.
Los médicos tuvieron que operar para reparar el hueso que el accidente me hizo ___.
While 'romper', 'quebrar', and 'partir' can mean 'to break', 'fracturar' is specifically used in a medical context for bones.
Después de la caída, temí que me hubiera ___ la pierna.
'Fracturado' specifically refers to a broken bone, which is often the concern after a fall.
La presión excesiva puede ___ el cristal de la ventana.
'Fracturar' is appropriate here to describe the cracking or breaking of a hard object like glass due to pressure.
El dentista dijo que el diente estaba ___ y necesitaba una corona.
A tooth can be 'fracturado' (cracked) and require a crown.
Si continúas usando esa raqueta, podrías ___ el marco con un golpe fuerte.
To 'fracturar' the frame means to break or crack it, which is possible with a strong impact.
Los arqueólogos descubrieron un jarrón antiguo que se había ___ en varias piezas.
An ancient vase would typically 'fracturar' (break into pieces) rather than decompose or pulverize in this context.
Choose the best translation for 'fracturar'.
'Fracturar' specifically means to break or crack, often in the context of bones or hard objects.
Which sentence correctly uses 'fracturar'?
'Fracturar' applies to hard objects like glass (cristal). The other options are grammatically incorrect or nonsensical in context.
If someone falls and hurts their arm badly, what might happen?
A severe fall could cause a bone to break or crack, which is 'fracturarse'.
You can 'fracturar' a soft pillow.
'Fracturar' is used for hard objects that can break or crack, not soft ones.
If a doctor says 'su hueso está fracturado', it means your bone is broken.
'Fracturado' is the past participle of 'fracturar', meaning 'broken' or 'fractured'.
A slight crack in a wall can be described using 'fracturar'.
'Fracturar' can refer to breaking or cracking, and a wall is a hard object that can crack.
Los arqueólogos tuvieron cuidado de no ___ los frágiles huesos encontrados en la tumba.
While all options mean 'to break,' 'fracturar' is the most appropriate and formal term when referring to bones or hard, brittle objects in a careful context.
Si no manejas el cristal con precaución, podrías ___lo.
'Fracturar' is the most fitting verb to describe breaking or cracking glass due to mishandling.
El impacto fue tan fuerte que la pared del edificio comenzó a ___.
Here, 'fracturarse' refers to the wall developing cracks, indicating damage but not necessarily complete collapse.
Es crucial inmovilizar la zona si sospechas que una persona puede haber ___ un hueso.
When discussing a bone injury, 'fracturado' is the precise medical term for a break.
La presión extrema podría ___ la estructura interna del submarino.
'Fracturar' describes the structural failure or cracking of the submarine's internal components due to extreme pressure.
Después del accidente, el médico confirmó que el paciente había ___ varias costillas.
In a medical context, 'fracturado' is the most accurate term for breaking bones like ribs.
The impact was so strong that they feared his leg would break.
The doctors confirmed that the fall had fractured several ribs.
It's crucial to immobilize the area if you suspect someone has fractured a bone.
Read this aloud:
Después de la caída, me preocupaba que pudiera haberme fracturado la muñeca.
Focus: frac-tu-rar
Du hast gesagt:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
Para evitar fracturar los huesos, es importante consumir suficiente calcio.
Focus: e-vi-tar frac-tu-rar
Du hast gesagt:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
El alpinista se fracturó el tobillo al resbalar en el hielo.
Focus: al-pi-nis-ta se frac-tu-ró el to-bi-llo
Du hast gesagt:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
This sentence describes a bone breaking due to a strong hit. The correct order places 'el hueso' (the bone) as the subject, followed by the reflexive verb 'se fracturó' (broke), and then the cause 'con un golpe fuerte' (with a strong hit).
This sentence explains that the phone screen broke after a fall. 'Tras la caída' (after the fall) starts the sentence, followed by 'la pantalla del teléfono' (the phone screen) as the subject, and then the reflexive verb 'se fracturó' (broke).
This sentence states that the risk of breaking bones increases with age. 'El riesgo' (the risk) is the subject, followed by 'de fracturarse los huesos' (of breaking the bones), and then the verb 'aumenta' (increases) and 'con la edad' (with age).
This sentence discusses societal tensions threatening national cohesion.
This sentence refers to ideological rigidity breaking political alliances.
This sentence speaks of constant stress breaking even the strongest will.
/ 78 correct
Perfect score!
Basic Meaning of 'Fracturar'
Remember that 'fracturar' generally means to break or to crack, specifically in the context of bones or other hard objects.
Common Use Cases for 'Fracturar'
You'll most often hear 'fracturar' in medical contexts, like 'fracturarse un hueso' (to fracture a bone), or when talking about damage to hard, inanimate objects, like 'la pared se fracturó' (the wall cracked).
Don't Confuse with 'Romper'
While similar, 'fracturar' implies a more severe break or crack than 'romper'. 'Romper' can mean to break anything, even something soft like a glass or a heart. 'Fracturar' is usually for hard, solid things.
Reflexive Form: 'Fracturarse'
When someone breaks their own bone, use the reflexive form: 'Me fracturé la pierna' (I broke my leg). This is very common.
Beispiel
Se fracturó la muñeca al caerse de la bicicleta.
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