Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'broke'

English Word: broke

Key Russian Translations:

• сломанный [ˈslomənɨj] - [Adjective, Used for physical objects]
• разорённый [rəzɐˈrʲonɨj] - [Adjective, Used for financial ruin]
• без денег [bʲez ˈdʲenʲek] - [Phrase, Informal, Used for being out of money]

Frequency: Medium (varies by context)

Difficulty: A2-B1 (Beginner-Intermediate; "без денег" is easier, while "разорённый" may be B2 due to formal usage)

Pronunciation (Russian):

сломанный: [ˈslomənɨj]

Note on сломанный: Stress on the first syllable. The final 'ы' sounds like a short 'i'.

разорённый: [rəzɐˈrʲonɨj]

Note on разорённый: Stress on the third syllable. The 'ё' is always stressed and pronounced as 'yo'.

без денег: [bʲez ˈdʲenʲek]

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Physically damaged or not functioning (e.g., a broken object)

Translation(s) & Context:

• сломанный - Used for objects that are physically broken or malfunctioning.

Usage Examples:

• Мой телефон сломанный.

  My phone is broken.

• Стул сломанный, не сиди на нём.

  The chair is broken, don't sit on it.

• Часы сломанные, они не идут.

  The clock is broken, it doesn't work.

2. Financially ruined or without money

Translation(s) & Context:

• разорённый - Formal, often used for complete financial ruin or bankruptcy.
• без денег - Informal, commonly used to mean "out of money" or "broke".

Usage Examples:

• Он остался разорённый после кризиса.

  He was left broke after the crisis.

• Я сейчас без денег, можешь одолжить?

  I'm broke right now, can you lend me some money?

• После отпуска я совсем без денег.

  After the vacation, I'm completely broke.

• Его бизнес разорённый, он потерял всё.

  His business is broke, he lost everything.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

сломанный (Adjective): Declines by gender, number, and case as a standard Russian adjective.

Case	Masculine	Feminine	Neuter	Plural
Nominative	сломанный	сломанная	сломанное	сломанные
Genitive	сломанного	сломанной	сломанного	сломанных

разорённый (Adjective): Follows similar declension patterns as "сломанный".

без денег (Phrase): Invariable. "Без" is a preposition, and "денег" is the genitive plural of "деньги" (money).

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for сломанный:

• поломанный
• испорченный

Note: "поломанный" is often interchangeable with "сломанный", while "испорченный" can imply "spoiled" or "damaged".

Synonyms for разорённый/без денег:

• обанкротившийся (for разорённый)
• на мели (for без денег, informal)

Antonyms:

• целый (for сломанный, meaning "whole" or "intact")
• богатый (for разорённый/без денег, meaning "rich")

Related Phrases:

• сломанный на части - "broken into pieces"
• остаться без денег - "to be left broke"
• разорённый в пух и прах - "completely broke/ruined"

Usage Notes:

• "Сломанный" is strictly for physical objects and cannot be used for financial contexts.
• "Разорённый" is more formal and often used in literary or historical contexts to describe bankruptcy or ruin.
• "Без денег" is the most common way to express being "broke" in everyday speech. It literally means "without money".
• Be mindful of the context when choosing between these translations, as they are not interchangeable.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "сломанный" to describe financial status. Incorrect: "Я сломанный" (I am broken). Correct: "Я без денег" (I am broke).
• Error: Misusing "разорённый" in casual conversation. Incorrect: "Я разорённый, не могу купить кофе." Correct: "Я без денег, не могу купить кофе."

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, being "без денег" (broke) is often discussed openly among friends, and asking for small loans is not uncommon. However, "разорённый" carries a heavier, more tragic connotation, often tied to historical or dramatic narratives of loss.

Related Concepts:

• долг (debt)
• банкротство (bankruptcy)
• ремонт (repair, related to fixing something broken)