brechen
Translation
to break, to fracture, to violate, to vomit
Examples
Der Ast bricht unter dem Schnee.
The branch breaks under the snow.
Er bricht sein Versprechen.
He breaks his promise.
Das Licht bricht sich im Wasser.
The light refracts in the water.
Sie bricht mit der Tradition ihrer Familie.
She breaks with her family's tradition.
Grammar Patterns
((et4)) brechen to break ((sth.)) The boy breaks the stick.
ein Versprechen brechen to break a promise He never breaks his promise.
sich ((j-m)) ((et4)) brechen to break one's ((own body part)) She breaks her arm.
mit ((et3)) brechen to break with ((sth.)) He breaks with the past.
Similar Words
zerstören (to destroy), kaputt machen (to break); Antonyms: reparieren (to repair)
Etymology
Cognate with the English word 'break', both from Proto-Germanic.
Memory Tips
'Bricht' sounds very similar to the English '(it) breaks'. The connection is very strong.