broke
/ˈbɹoʊ̯k/adjective, noun, verb
broke is spelled B-R-O-K-E: 5 letters and one syllable. It appears 71 times per million words in written English, the 1,486th most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As an adjective, broke means “Financially ruined, bankrupt” (English Wiktionary, September 2026).
How many letters and syllables are in broke?
| Letters | 5: B-R-O-K-E |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 1 |
| In writing | 71 times per million words; the 1,486th most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in search |
| Rhymes with |
Sources: letters and syllables from the English Wiktionary's hyphenation or pronunciation; written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media); rhymes and same-letter words are computed by PlainSpell from its own word list.
How common is broke?
Broke appears 71 times per million words in written English, the 1,486th most frequent word form in the list.
Source: written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How do you pronounce broke?
- UK /ˈbɹəʊ̯k/
- /bɹɒk/
- US /ˈbɹoʊ̯k/
Broke has one syllable.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Recordings: En-us-broke.ogg, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
Words people confuse with broke
Also written: stony broke.
Sources: English Wiktionary (homophones, alternative spellings).
What rhymes with broke?
The 12 most written words on PlainSpell end in the same sounds as broke from its last stressed vowel (/oʊk/):
Computed by PlainSpell from the pronunciations in the English Wiktionary (dump of September 2, 2026): a rhyme shares every sound from the last stressed vowel to the end; ordered by written frequency (wordfreq 3.1).
Forms of broke
- broker comparative
- more broke comparative
- brokest superlative
- most broke superlative
- brokes plural, present, singular, he/she/it
- broking participle, present
- broked participle, past
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does broke mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
adjective
- 1
informalFinancially ruined, bankrupt.
He was broke after spending all his money into video games.
- 2
informalWithout any money, penniless.
dead broke; flat broke
- 3
archaicinformalBroken.
If it ain’t broke, don't fix it.
- 4
Demoted, deprived of a commission.
He was broke and rendered unfit to serve His Majesty at sea.
- 5
slangBroke off, rich, wealthy
noun
- 1
Paper or board that is discarded and repulped during the manufacturing process.
- 2
obsoleteA fragment, remains, a piece broken off.
verb
- 1
To act as a broker; to transact business for another; synonym of broker.
Agents broking with various other carriers can offer additional options.
- 2
obsoleteTo act as procurer in love matters; to pimp.
- 3
simple past of break
- 4
archaicnonstandardpast participle of break
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Broke in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
In the sense lacking money; bankrupt:
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| French | fauché, à sec, désargenté |
| German | pleite, abgebrannt, broke |
| Portuguese | quebrado, duro, liso |
| Spanish | pelado, sin un duro, sin un peso, sin blanca, tieso, a dos velas |
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Translations are Wiktionary's, by sense; a linked word has its own PlainSpell page.
Where does broke come from?
Ablauted form of break.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).