romper

English

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈɹɒmpə/

• Audio (Southern England):

  (file)

• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈɹɑmpɚ/
• Rhymes: -ɒmpə(ɹ)

Etymology 1

Etymology tree

English romp

English -er

English romper

From romp + -er.

Noun

romper (plural rompers)

1. Someone who romps or frolics.
   • 1990, Wayne Jancik, The Billboard Book of One-Hit Wonders, →ISBN, page 316:

     For a brief spell in 1974, Polly was singing in blackface as Sarah Leone with a British reggae romper named Tony Jackson.

2. (nautical) A ship that has moved far ahead of a convoy.

   Coordinate term: straggler

Etymology 2

Ellipsis of romper suit.

Noun

romper (plural rompers)

1. A onesie.
   • 2021 May 4, Ruth La Ferla, “On That Bombshell Billie Eilish Cover for British Vogue”, in The New York Times‎^[1], →ISSN:

     Prompted to pose on her bed, [Tavi Gevinson] dressed in a skimpy romper, “pouting,” she recalled, “with heavily lined eyes and straightened blonde hair.”

Derived terms

• bubble romper

Etymology 3

From romper room.

Verb

romper (third-person singular simple present rompers, present participle rompering, simple past and past participle rompered)

1. (Ireland, historical, transitive) To abduct (a victim) to a room where they are tortured and murdered; associated with the Ulster Defence Association.
   • 2003, Martin Dillon, The Trigger Men: Assassins and Terror Bosses in the Ireland Conflict:

     James McCartan was about to be ‘rompered’, but not before those present poured themselves drinks.

Derived terms

• romper room

Dutch

Etymology

Borrowed from English romper, from English romper suit. In folk etymology, the word is linked with Dutch romp (“torso”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈrɔm.pər/

• Audio:

  (file)

• Hyphenation: rom‧per
• Rhymes: -ɔmpər

Noun

romper m (plural rompers, diminutive rompertje n)

1. a one-piece garment for an infant or small child; a onesie or romper
2. an adult loungewear jumpsuit with short sleeves; a onesie or romper

Usage notes

For the baby version, the diminutive rompertje is often used.

Galician

Etymology

From Old Galician-Portuguese romper (13^th century, Cantigas de Santa Maria), from Latin rumpere.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [romˈpeɾ]

Verb

romper (first-person singular present rompo, first-person singular preterite rompín, past participle rompido, short past participle roto)
romper (first-person singular present rompo, first-person singular preterite rompim or rompi, past participle rompido, reintegrationist norm)

1. (ambitransitive) to break

   Synonyms: britar, crebar, rachar

2. (intransitive, of the day) to dawn

   Synonym: abrir

Conjugation

    Conjugation of romper (irregular short past participle)

	Singular			Plural
	First-person (eu)	Second-person (ti)	Third-person (el / ela / Vde.)	First-person (nós)	Second-person (vós)	Third-person (eles / elas / Vdes.)
Infinitive
Impersonal	romper
Personal	romper	romperes	romper	rompermos	romperdes	romperen
Gerund
	rompendo
Short past participle
Masculine	roto1			rotos1
Feminine	rota1			rotas1
Long past participle
Masculine	rompido2			rompidos2
Feminine	rompida2			rompidas2
Indicative
Present	rompo	rompes	rompe	rompemos	rompedes	rompen
Imperfect	rompía	rompías	rompía	rompiamos	rompiades	rompían
Preterite	rompín	rompiches	rompeu	rompemos	rompestes	romperon
Pluperfect	rompera	romperas	rompera	romperamos	romperades	romperan
Future	romperei	romperás	romperá	romperemos	romperedes	romperán
Conditional	rompería	romperías	rompería	romperiamos	romperiades	romperían
Subjunctive
Present	rompa	rompas	rompa	rompamos	rompades	rompan
Imperfect	rompese	rompeses	rompese	rompésemos	rompésedes	rompesen
Future	romper	romperes	romper	rompermos	romperdes	romperen
Imperative
Affirmative		rompe	rompa	rompamos	rompede	rompan
Negative (non)		non rompas	non rompa	non rompamos	non rompades	non rompan

¹Usually used with auxiliary verbs ser and estar.
²Usually used with auxiliary verbs haber and ter.

    Reintegrated conjugation of romper (See Appendix:Reintegrationism)

	Singular			Plural
	First-person (eu)	Second-person (ti / tu)	Third-person (ele / ela / você)	First-person (nós)	Second-person (vós)	Third-person (eles / elas / vocês)
Infinitive
Impersonal	romper
Personal	romper	romperes	romper	rompermos	romperdes	romperem
Gerund
	rompendo
Past participle
Masculine	rompido			rompidos
Feminine	rompida			rompidas
Indicative
Present	rompo	rompes	rompe	rompemos	rompedes, rompeis	rompem
Imperfect	rompia	rompias	rompia	rompíamos	rompíades, rompíeis, rompíais1	rompiam
Preterite	rompim, rompi	rompeste, rompeche1	rompeu	rompemos	rompestes	rompêrom, romperam
Pluperfect	rompera	romperas	rompera	rompêramos	rompêrades, rompêreis, rompêrais1	romperam
Future	romperei	romperás	romperá	romperemos	romperedes, rompereis	romperám, romperão
Conditional	romperia	romperias	romperia	romperíamos	romperíades, romperíeis, romperíais1	romperiam
Subjunctive
Present	rompa	rompas	rompa	rompamos	rompades, rompais	rompam
Imperfect	rompesse	rompesses	rompesse	rompêssemos	rompêssedes, rompêsseis	rompessem
Future	romper	romperes	romper	rompermos	romperdes	romperem
Imperative
Affirmative		rompe	rompa	rompamos	rompede, rompei	rompam
Negative (nom)		nom rompas	nom rompa	nom rompamos	nom rompades, nom rompais	nom rompam

¹Less recommended.

References

• Seoane, Ernesto Xosé González; Granja, María Álvarez de la; Agrelo, Ana Isabel Boullón (2006–2022), “romper”, in Dicionario de Dicionarios do galego medieval [Dictionary of dictionaries of Medieval Galician] (in Galician), Santiago de Compostela: Instituto da Lingua Galega
• Barreiro, Xavier Varela; Guinovart, Xavier Gómez (2006–2018), “romper”, in Corpus Xelmírez: corpus lingüístico da Galicia medieval [Corpus Xelmírez: linguistic corpus of Medieval Galicia] (in Galician), Santiago de Compostela: Instituto da Lingua Galega
• Antón Luís Santamarina Fernández, editor (2006–2013), “romper”, in Dicionario de Dicionarios da lingua galega [Dictionary of Dictionaries of the Galician language] (in Galician), Santiago de Compostela: Instituto da Lingua Galega
• “romper”, in Dicionario da Real Academia Galega (in Galician), A Coruña: Royal Galician Academy, 2012–2026
• Antón Luís Santamarina Fernández, Ernesto Xosé González Seoane, María Álvarez de la Granja, editors (2003–2018), “romper”, in Tesouro informatizado da lingua galega (in Galician), Santiago de Compostela: Instituto da Lingua Galega
• “romper”, in Dicionário Estraviz de galego (in Galician), 2014–2026
• Rosario Álvarez Blanco, editor (2014–2024), “romper”, in Tesouro do léxico patrimonial galego e portugués (in Galician), Santiago de Compostela: Instituto da Lingua Galega, →ISSN

Ladin

Alternative forms

• rompe

Etymology

From Latin rumpere.

Verb

romper

1. to break

Conjugation

• Ladin conjugation varies from one region to another. Hence, the following conjugation should be considered as typical, not as exhaustive.

Conjugation of romper (third conjugation, irregular past participle)

infinitive	romper, rompe
auxiliary verb	avei		gerund		rompan
past participle	rot
person	singular			plural
	first	second	third	first	second	third
indicative	ie	tu	el / ela	nos	vos	ei / eles
present	rompe	rompes	romp	rompon	rompeis	romp
imperfect	rompove	rompoves	rompova	rompovan	rompovais	rompova
future	romparé	romparas	romparà	romparon	rompareis	romparà
subjunctive	che ie	che tu	che el / ela	che nos	che vos	che ei / eles
present	rompe	rompes	rompe	rompon	rompeis	rompe
imperfect	rompesse	rompesses	rompessa	rompessan	rompessais	rompessa
imperative	–	tu	–	nos	vos	–
	—	romp	—	rompon	rompede	—

Portuguese

Etymology

Inherited from Old Galician-Portuguese romper, from Latin rumpō, rumpere (“to break”).

Pronunciation

 

• (Brazil) IPA^(key): /ʁõˈpe(ʁ)/ [hõˈpe(h)]

• (Brazil) IPA^(key): /ʁõˈpe(ʁ)/ [hõˈpe(h)]
  • (São Paulo) IPA^(key): /ʁõˈpe(ɾ)/ [hõˈpe(ɾ)]
  • (Rio de Janeiro) IPA^(key): /ʁõˈpe(ʁ)/ [χõˈpe(χ)]
  • (Caipira) IPA^(key): /ʁõˈpe(ɻ)/ [hõˈpe(ɻ)]

 

• (Portugal) IPA^(key): /ʁõˈpeɾ/

• (Portugal) IPA^(key): /ʁõˈpeɾ/
  • (Southern Portugal) IPA^(key): /ʁõˈpe.ɾi/

• Hyphenation: rom‧per

Verb

romper (first-person singular present rompo, first-person singular preterite rompi, past participle rompido, short past participle (Brazil only) roto)

1. to break, to tear, to rupture

Conjugation

    Conjugation of romper (irregular short past participle) (See Appendix:Portuguese verbs)

	Singular			Plural
	First-person (eu)	Second-person (tu)	Third-person (ele / ela / você)	First-person (nós)	Second-person (vós)	Third-person (eles / elas / vocês)
Infinitive
Impersonal	romper
Personal	romper	romperes	romper	rompermos	romperdes	romperem
Gerund
	rompendo
Short past participle
Masculine	roto1,2			rotos1,2
Feminine	rota1,2			rotas1,2
Long past participle
Masculine	rompido3			rompidos3
Feminine	rompida3			rompidas3
Indicative
Present	rompo	rompes	rompe	rompemos	rompeis	rompem
Imperfect	rompia	rompias	rompia	rompíamos	rompíeis	rompiam
Preterite	rompi	rompeste	rompeu	rompemos	rompestes	romperam
Pluperfect	rompera	romperas	rompera	rompêramos	rompêreis	romperam
Future	romperei	romperás	romperá	romperemos	rompereis	romperão
Conditional	romperia	romperias	romperia	romperíamos	romperíeis	romperiam
Subjunctive
Present	rompa	rompas	rompa	rompamos	rompais	rompam
Imperfect	rompesse	rompesses	rompesse	rompêssemos	rompêsseis	rompessem
Future	romper	romperes	romper	rompermos	romperdes	romperem
Imperative
Affirmative		rompe	rompa	rompamos	rompei	rompam
Negative (não)		não rompas	não rompa	não rompamos	não rompais	não rompam

¹Brazil only.
²Usually used with auxiliary verbs ser and estar.
³Usually used with auxiliary verbs haver and ter.

Quotations

For quotations using this term, see Citations:romper.

Related terms

• corromper
• roçar
• roto
• rotura

Further reading

• “romper”, in Dicionário Aulete Digital (in Portuguese), Rio de Janeiro: Lexikon Editora Digital, 2008–2026
• “romper”, in Dicionário Priberam da Língua Portuguesa (in Portuguese), Lisbon: Priberam, 2008–2026

Spanish

Etymology

Inherited from Old Spanish romper, from Latin rumpō, rumpere (“to break”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /romˈpeɾ/ [rõmˈpeɾ]

• Audio (Peru):

  (file)

• Rhymes: -eɾ
• Syllabification: rom‧per

Verb

romper (first-person singular present rompo, first-person singular preterite rompí, past participle roto)

1. to break

   Synonyms: despedazar, destrozar, destruir, derribar, derrumbar, arruinar, quebrar

   romper el hechizo

   break the spell

   se me ha roto el móvil ― my mobile phone broke

   Rómpase la cabeza con ilusiones ópticas.

   Rack your brain with optical illusions.

2. to break up, terminate (a relationship, friendship etc.)

   Mariana rompió con ella.

   Mariana broke up with her.

   Mariana y Catalina rompieron.

   Mariana and Catalina broke up.

3. (with a) to begin to do something; to break into

   Synonyms: comenzar, empezar

   romper a conducir ― to start driving

4. to rupture

Conjugation

    Conjugation of romper (irregular) (See Appendix:Spanish verbs)

infinitive			romper
gerund			rompiendo
past participle				masculine		feminine
		singular		roto		rota
		plural		rotos		rotas
		singular			plural
		1st person	2nd person	3rd person	1st person	2nd person	3rd person
indicative		yo	tú vos	él/ella/ello usted	nosotros nosotras	vosotros vosotras	ellos/ellas ustedes
	present	rompo	rompestú rompésvos	rompe	rompemos	rompéis	rompen
	imperfect	rompía	rompías	rompía	rompíamos	rompíais	rompían
	preterite	rompí	rompiste	rompió	rompimos	rompisteis	rompieron
	future	romperé	romperás	romperá	romperemos	romperéis	romperán
	conditional	rompería	romperías	rompería	romperíamos	romperíais	romperían
subjunctive		yo	tú vos	él/ella/ello usted	nosotros nosotras	vosotros vosotras	ellos/ellas ustedes
	present	rompa	rompastú rompásvos2	rompa	rompamos	rompáis	rompan
	imperfect (ra)	rompiera	rompieras	rompiera	rompiéramos	rompierais	rompieran
	imperfect (se)	rompiese	rompieses	rompiese	rompiésemos	rompieseis	rompiesen
	future1	rompiere	rompieres	rompiere	rompiéremos	rompiereis	rompieren
imperative		—	tú vos	usted	nosotros nosotras	vosotros vosotras	ustedes
	affirmative		rompetú rompévos	rompa	rompamos	romped	rompan
	negative		no rompas	no rompa	no rompamos	no rompáis	no rompan

¹Rare; now chiefly used in legal language.
²Argentine and Uruguayan voseo prefers the tuteo-form for the present subjunctive.

    Selected combined forms of romper (irregular)

These forms are generated automatically and may not actually be used. Pronoun usage varies by region.

		singular			plural
		1st person	2nd person	3rd person	1st person	2nd person	3rd person
with infinitive romper	dative	romperme	romperte	romperle, romperse	rompernos	romperos	romperles, romperse
	accusative	romperme	romperte	romperlo, romperla, romperse	rompernos	romperos	romperlos, romperlas, romperse
with gerund rompiendo	dative	rompiéndome	rompiéndote	rompiéndole, rompiéndose	rompiéndonos	rompiéndoos	rompiéndoles, rompiéndose
	accusative	rompiéndome	rompiéndote	rompiéndolo, rompiéndola, rompiéndose	rompiéndonos	rompiéndoos	rompiéndolos, rompiéndolas, rompiéndose
with informal second-person singular tuteo imperative rompe	dative	rómpeme	rómpete	rómpele	rómpenos	not used	rómpeles
	accusative	rómpeme	rómpete	rómpelo, rómpela	rómpenos	not used	rómpelos, rómpelas
with informal second-person singular voseo imperative rompé	dative	rompeme	rompete	rompele	rompenos	not used	rompeles
	accusative	rompeme	rompete	rompelo, rompela	rompenos	not used	rompelos, rompelas
with formal second-person singular imperative rompa	dative	rómpame	not used	rómpale, rómpase	rómpanos	not used	rómpales
	accusative	rómpame	not used	rómpalo, rómpala, rómpase	rómpanos	not used	rómpalos, rómpalas
with first-person plural imperative rompamos	dative	not used	rompámoste	rompámosle	rompámonos	rompámoos	rompámosles
	accusative	not used	rompámoste	rompámoslo, rompámosla	rompámonos	rompámoos	rompámoslos, rompámoslas
with informal second-person plural imperative romped	dative	rompedme	not used	rompedle	rompednos	rompeos	rompedles
	accusative	rompedme	not used	rompedlo, rompedla	rompednos	rompeos	rompedlos, rompedlas
with formal second-person plural imperative rompan	dative	rómpanme	not used	rómpanle	rómpannos	not used	rómpanles, rómpanse
	accusative	rómpanme	not used	rómpanlo, rómpanla	rómpannos	not used	rómpanlos, rómpanlas, rómpanse

Derived terms

• a rompe y raja
• rompe saragüey
• rompecabezas m
• rompecabezas
• rompecorazones
• rompedero
• rompedor, rompedora
• rompehielos
• rompehuelgas
• rompemuelles
• rompeolas m
• romper a llorar
• romper el corazón
• romper el hielo
• romper el nombre
• romper filas
• romper la baraja
• romper la cuarta pared
• romper las hostilidades
• romper las oraciones
• romper las pelotas
• romper los quinotos
• romper por todo
• romper un camino
• romper una lanza
• romperredes
• romperse la cabeza
• romperse los cascos
• romperse los cuernos
• rompible
• rompimiento
• tanto va el cántaro a la fuente que al final se rompe

Related terms

• arromper
• corromper
• derromper
• interromper
• rotura
• rozar
• ruptura
• ruta

Descendants

• → Belizean Creole: rompeh raaheh

Further reading

• “romper”, in Diccionario de la lengua española [Dictionary of the Spanish Language] (in Spanish), online version 23.8.1, Royal Spanish Academy [Spanish: Real Academia Española], 15 December 2025