01
brechen
to break
To split something hard or brittle into two or more pieces by force. This also includes bone injuries.
example
Er hat den Ast mit einem lauten Knacken gebrochen.
He broke the branch with a loud crack.
brechen
to break
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Transitive vs. intransitive
'Brechen' (to break) can be used transitively (with an accusative object) or intransitively (without an object). Transitive means that someone or something actively breaks something. Intransitive means that something breaks by itself.
EXAMPLE
Sie bricht den Schokoladenriegel in zwei Hälften.
She breaks the chocolate bar into two halves.
Expressing bone fractures
When someone breaks a bone, German uses a dative construction: 'sich (Dativ) etwas (Akkusativ) brechen' (to break something). The person is in the dative, and the body part is in the accusative.
EXAMPLE
Ich habe mir beim Skifahren das Bein gebrochen.
I broke my leg while skiing.
Breaking abstract things
In this meaning, 'brechen' (to break) is used with abstract nouns that represent a rule or agreement. Typical collocations are 'ein Versprechen brechen' (to break a promise), 'das Gesetz brechen' (to break the law), 'sein Wort brechen' (to break one's word), or 'das Schweigen brechen' (to break the silence).
EXAMPLE
Er hat sein Versprechen gebrochen, pünktlich zu sein.
He broke his promise to be on time.
Context clue: waves
When the subject of the sentence is 'Wellen' (waves), 'brechen' (to break) is always used intransitively. It describes the natural movement of waves as they reach the shore or obstacles.
EXAMPLE
Wir saßen am Strand und sahen zu, wie die Wellen am Ufer brachen.
We sat on the beach and watched the waves break on the shore.
Reflexive and elevated
In the meaning of 'sich übergeben' (to vomit), the verb is always used reflexively: 'sich brechen' (to vomit). This formulation is considered somewhat more formal or a euphemism (a softened expression).
EXAMPLE
Dem Jungen wurde auf der langen Autofahrt schlecht und er musste sich brechen.
The boy felt sick on the long car ride and had to vomit.
Typical collocation: record
In a sports or competitive context, the most common and almost the only collocation is 'einen Rekord brechen' (to break a record).
EXAMPLE
Der Schwimmer hofft, bei den Olympischen Spielen den Weltrekord zu brechen.
The swimmer hopes to break the world record at the Olympic Games.
Context clue: physics
When 'brechen' (to refract) is used in a scientific context with 'Licht' (light) or 'Schall' (sound) as the object, it means 'to refract'. The subject is the medium that causes the refraction (e.g., water, glass).
EXAMPLE
Ein Prisma bricht das weiße Licht in seine Spektralfarben.
A prism refracts white light into its spectral colors.
Compare with
brechen vs verletzen
to injure / hurt / violate
'verletzen' and 'brechen' can both refer to damage to the body, especially bones. 'Sich verletzen' is more general: you can have a wound, pain, or some other physical harm. 'Sich etwas brechen' is more specific and means that a bone is broken. There is also some overlap with rules: you can 'eine Regel verletzen' or 'eine Regel brechen' (to violate/break a rule). 'Eine Regel brechen' often sounds like deliberately not following it, while 'ein Recht oder eine Pflicht verletzen' (to violate a right or duty) sounds somewhat more formal. They can be confusing because both words occur with the body and with rules, but 'brechen' only fits when something is broken or when rules are not followed.
brechen
Lisa ist auf der Treppe gefallen und hat sich den Arm gebrochen.
Lisa fell on the stairs and broke her arm.
verletzen
Beim Fußball hat sich Tom am Knie verletzt.
Tom injured his knee while playing soccer.
In real life
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