En 15 secondes
- To surpass a previous best achievement or statistical limit.
- Commonly used in sports, business, weather, and personal goals.
- Uses the irregular verb 'brechen' (bricht, brach, hat gebrochen).
Signification
To achieve something better, faster, or greater than anyone else has done before. It is used for sports, business milestones, or even personal goals.
Exemples clés
3 sur 7Talking about a successful business month
Diesen Monat brechen unsere Verkaufszahlen alle Rekorde.
This month our sales figures are breaking all records.
Commenting on extreme summer heat
Die Hitze in diesem Sommer bricht wirklich alle Rekorde.
The heat this summer is really breaking all records.
Texting a friend about a gym session
Ich habe heute beim Laufen meinen eigenen Rekord gebrochen!
I broke my own record while running today!
Contexte culturel
Germans are known for their love of 'Vereine' (clubs) and 'Wettbewerb' (competition). Whether it is the Bundesliga or a local baking contest, documenting achievements is a national pastime. The phrase reflects a cultural respect for hard work and measurable success.
The 'Knacken' Secret
If you want to sound like a native speaker at the gym, say 'Ich will den Rekord knacken'. It sounds much more determined!
Don't break the law
Remember, 'Gesetze brechen' (breaking laws) is negative. 'Rekorde brechen' is almost always positive. Don't mix them up!
En 15 secondes
- To surpass a previous best achievement or statistical limit.
- Commonly used in sports, business, weather, and personal goals.
- Uses the irregular verb 'brechen' (bricht, brach, hat gebrochen).
What It Means
Imagine you are standing on top of a mountain. You did something no one else could do. That is the essence of Rekorde brechen. It means surpassing a previous limit or high point. In German, this phrase is very common. It is not just for Olympic athletes. It is for anyone who beats a previous best. It feels energetic and successful. You are pushing boundaries when you use this.
How To Use It
The verb brechen is the engine here. It is an irregular verb. In the present tense, it changes: ich breche, but er bricht. In the past, it becomes er brach. The most common form is the perfect: hat gebrochen. You usually put Rekorde in the plural. This sounds more impressive. If it is just one specific record, use den Rekord. It is a simple 'Subject + Verb + Object' structure.
When To Use It
Use this phrase when the numbers are high. It is perfect for a business meeting. Tell your boss the sales are Rekorde brechen. Use it when talking about the weather. If it is 40 degrees in Berlin, the heat is Rekorde brechen. It also works for personal hobbies. Maybe you ran your fastest 5k today. Tell your friends you are Rekorde brechen. It sounds proud and motivated.
When NOT To Use It
Do not use this for physical objects. If you drop a plate, you do not Rekorde brechen. You just made a mess. Also, do not use it for rules or laws. Breaking a law is ein Gesetz brechen. That is a very different vibe. Using Rekorde brechen for a bad thing sounds weird. For example, do not say you are Rekorde brechen for being late. That sounds like you are proud of a mistake.
Cultural Background
Germans love statistics and efficiency. We have a club for everything. From gardening to heavy lifting, we keep track. Records are a way to measure progress. In Germany, being a Spitzenreiter (front-runner) is a big deal. The phrase became very popular with the rise of modern sports. It reflects the 'Leistungsgesellschaft' or 'achievement-oriented society'. We like to see clear, documented growth.
Common Variations
If you want to sound more casual, use den Rekord knacken. This literally means 'to crack the record'. It sounds like you worked hard to open a safe. If you match a record, use den Rekord einstellen. For creating a brand new record, use einen Rekord aufstellen. If something is almost a record, call it rekordverdächtig. This means 'record-suspicious' or 'likely to be a record'.
Notes d'usage
The phrase is safe to use in almost any context, from a casual chat to a formal presentation. Just remember the irregular verb forms of 'brechen'.
The 'Knacken' Secret
If you want to sound like a native speaker at the gym, say 'Ich will den Rekord knacken'. It sounds much more determined!
Don't break the law
Remember, 'Gesetze brechen' (breaking laws) is negative. 'Rekorde brechen' is almost always positive. Don't mix them up!
Weather Records
Germans are obsessed with weather records. Mentioning a 'Hitzerekord' (heat record) is the fastest way to start a conversation at a bus stop.
Exemples
7Diesen Monat brechen unsere Verkaufszahlen alle Rekorde.
This month our sales figures are breaking all records.
A very common way to praise a team's performance.
Die Hitze in diesem Sommer bricht wirklich alle Rekorde.
The heat this summer is really breaking all records.
Germans love discussing weather through the lens of statistics.
Ich habe heute beim Laufen meinen eigenen Rekord gebrochen!
I broke my own record while running today!
Using the perfect tense for a personal achievement.
Er wird heute bestimmt den Weltrekord brechen.
He will definitely break the world record today.
The classic use of the phrase in a sporting context.
Ich breche heute den Rekord im Lange-Ausschlafen.
I'm breaking the record for sleeping in late today.
Using the phrase ironically for a non-productive activity.
Gib nicht auf, du wirst bald Rekorde brechen!
Don't give up, you will be breaking records soon!
Using the phrase as a motivational metaphor.
Die Exportzahlen brachen im letzten Quartal sämtliche Rekorde.
Export figures broke all records in the last quarter.
Using the Präteritum (simple past) for a formal report.
Teste-toi
Fill in the correct form of the verb 'brechen' in the present tense.
Mein Bruder ___ jeden Tag seinen eigenen Rekord im Videospielen.
The subject is 'Mein Bruder' (he), so the irregular present tense form 'bricht' is required.
Choose the correct word to complete the phrase.
Wir wollen dieses Jahr den Verkaufsrekord ___.
'Rekorde brechen' is the standard collocation for surpassing a record.
🎉 Score : /2
Aides visuelles
Ways to talk about records
Using 'knacken' for a cool, energetic vibe.
Den Rekord knacken.
The standard way to say it in any situation.
Rekorde brechen.
Used in official sports or technical reports.
Einen Rekord aufstellen.
Where to use 'Rekorde brechen'
At the Office
Sales are higher than ever.
Weather Talk
The hottest day in history.
Gaming
Beating a high score.
Fitness
Running faster than last week.
Banque d exercices
2 exercicesMein Bruder ___ jeden Tag seinen eigenen Rekord im Videospielen.
The subject is 'Mein Bruder' (he), so the irregular present tense form 'bricht' is required.
Wir wollen dieses Jahr den Verkaufsrekord ___.
'Rekorde brechen' is the standard collocation for surpassing a record.
🎉 Score : /2
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsUsually, it is for positive achievements. However, you can use it for neutral things like 'Regenrekorde' (rain records). Using it for something like 'crime records' is possible but less common.
Brechen is neutral and standard. Knacken is more informal and implies a bit of a struggle or a 'tough nut to crack'.
You use the phrase einen Rekord aufstellen. For example: Sie hat einen neuen Rekord aufgestellt.
Yes! It changes to bricht in the third person singular and brach in the simple past. The past participle is gebrochen.
Absolutely. You can say meinen persönlichen Rekord brechen. It is very common in fitness and self-improvement.
Yes, very often. Managers use it to talk about Umsatzrekorde (turnover records) or Produktionsrekorde.
No, you can say den Rekord brechen if you are talking about one specific limit. Rekorde brechen (plural) sounds more general and impressive.
It is an adjective meaning 'record-breaking' or 'likely to be a record'. You might say a cake is rekordverdächtig lecker (record-breakingly delicious).
No, that is ein Herz brechen. While the verb is the same, you wouldn't use the word 'Rekord' there.
There isn't a direct single word, but you might say weit hinter dem Rekord zurückbleiben (to stay far behind the record).
Expressions liées
einen Rekord aufstellen
einen Rekord knacken
rekordverdächtig
Spitzenreiter sein
über sich hinauswachsen
