What is broke? Pronunciation and usage in English

broke means . Learn how to pronounce and use broke through vivid examples and easy-to-understand exercises.

Definition & pronunciation of broke

brokeadjective

/brəʊk//brəʊk/

Okay, let's break down how to pronounce "broke." There are a couple of common pronunciations, and they're often confused!

1. The Most Common Pronunciation (British English - and often used in American English too):

  • Pronunciation: /ˈbroʊk/ (rhymes with "toe")
  • Break it down:
    • “bro”: Sounds like the word "brow" (as in your forehead).
    • “ke”: This is a schwa sound – a very relaxed, short "uh" sound. It's like the vowel in "about."

2. The Older/More Formal American English Pronunciation:

  • Pronunciation: /brəʊk/ (This is closer to the British pronunciation, but with a slightly different vowel sound)
  • Break it down:
    • “br”: Similar to the British version - like “brow”.
    • “ō”: This is a long “oh” sound, like in “boat”.

Here's a helpful way to think about it:

  • Most people today (even in the US) will understand you if you say /ˈbroʊk/. It's the more frequently used pronunciation.
  • If you’re aiming for a more traditional American sound, or want to sound a bit more formal, /brəʊk/ is the way to go.

Resources to help you hear it:

  • Google Search: Search for "how to pronounce broke" on Google and click the speaker icon.
  • Forvo: https://forvo.com/word/broke/ – This website lets you hear pronunciations by native speakers from different regions.

To help me give you the most relevant advice, could you tell me:

  • Where are you located? (e.g., United States, United Kingdom, Australia, etc.) - This can influence the accepted pronunciation.
  • What kind of English are you trying to speak? (e.g., American, British, Australian?)

Usage and examples with the word broke in English

Let's break down how to use the word "broke" in English. It has several different meanings and uses, so it's important to understand the context. Here's a breakdown:

1. As an Adjective (Describing Financial Status):

  • Meaning: Without money; poor; penniless. This is the most common use.
  • Examples:
    • "He was broke after losing his job." (He had no money.)
    • "We're broke until payday." (We don’t have any money until we get paid.)
    • "She's a broke student, so she's always looking for ways to save money." (She is financially poor.)
    • "They were broke and had to sell their car."

2. As an Adjective (Describing a Break):

  • Meaning: Having a crack or split; damaged. This uses "broke" to describe something physically broken.
  • Examples:
    • "The glass broke when I dropped it." (The glass had a crack.)
    • “The vase broke during the earthquake.” (The vase was damaged and split.)
    • “He broke his leg skiing.” (his leg was broken)

3. As a Verb (To Break):

  • Meaning: To separate into pieces; to damage; to stop working. This is a more active verb.
  • Examples:
    • "Don't break those dishes!" (Stop damaging the dishes.)
    • "The computer broke down." (The computer stopped working.)
    • "She broke his heart." (She caused him emotional pain.)
    • "He broke the law." (He violated the law.)

4. Informal Slang (As an Adjective - Still meaning "broke"):

  • Meaning: Essentially the same as the first definition – without money. This usage is very common in American English, particularly among younger people.
  • Examples:
    • "I'm totally broke this week." (I have no money this week.)
    • "Dude, I'm broke." (I have no money, dude.)
    • “I’m broke so I’m having ramen for dinner.” (I have no money so I'm eating ramen for dinner.)

Key Differences & How to Tell the Difference:

  • Context is crucial! The surrounding words and the situation will almost always tell you which meaning is intended.
  • "Broke" as an adjective (financial): Usually followed by phrases like "out of money," "without funds," or "poor."
  • "Broke" as an adjective (broken object): Often followed by words like "glass," "vase," "leg," or "computer."
  • "Broke" as a verb: Often followed by words like "down," "the law," "his heart," or "the dishes."

Resources for Further Learning:

To help me give you even more tailored advice, could you tell me:

  • In what context are you trying to use the word "broke"? (e.g., are you writing a story, having a conversation, etc.)
  • Are you trying to use it as an adjective or a verb?

Synonyms for the word broke

Idioms of the word broke

go for broke
(informal)to risk everything in one determined effort to do something
    if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it
    (informal)used to say that if something works well enough, it should not be changed

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