The usual word for having no money is “sin dinero,” while “arruinado” and “quebrado” fit stronger money trouble.
Broke can mean two different things in English. It can mean a person has no money, or it can mean an object no longer works. Spanish uses different words for each meaning, so the safest choice depends on what you want to say.
For money, start with “sin dinero.” It means “without money,” and it works in almost any Spanish-speaking place. If you want a casual line, “estoy sin dinero” sounds clear and natural. If you mean a broken phone, chair, zipper, or rule, use “roto” or “rota” instead.
How To Say Broke In Spanish With The Right Money Tone
The most neutral phrase is “estar sin dinero.” It fits classwork, travel, work chats, and daily speech. You can say “Estoy sin dinero” for “I’m broke,” “Está sin dinero” for “he or she is broke,” and “Estamos sin dinero” for “we’re broke.”
Spanish often uses “estar” for temporary states. Being out of cash may change next week, so “estar” feels right. “Ser pobre” means “to be poor,” which describes a long-term condition. It can sound blunt or rude when you only mean someone is short on cash.
If the mood is more serious, use “arruinado” or “arruinada.” This points to heavy financial damage, not just an empty wallet. “La empresa quedó arruinada” means the company was left ruined. For a person, “Estoy arruinado” can sound dramatic, so use it only when the problem is big.
Another money word is “quebrado” or “quebrada.” In many Latin American places, it can mean broke in the casual sense. In legal or business speech, it can point toward bankruptcy. That double meaning makes tone matter. With friends, “ando quebrado” may sound normal. In a contract or school paper, pick “sin dinero” unless bankruptcy is meant.
Use “Roto” For Broken Things
When broke means damaged, Spanish changes direction. A broken glass is “un vaso roto.” A broken door is “una puerta rota.” The ending changes with gender and number: “rotos” for masculine plural and “rotas” for feminine plural.
Don’t say “mi teléfono está sin dinero” unless your phone has run out of stored money or credit. For a damaged phone, say “mi teléfono está roto.” For a dead battery, say “mi teléfono no tiene batería.” Small word choices keep the sentence from sounding odd.
Short Cash Phrases That Sound Native
“No tengo dinero” is direct and safe. It means “I don’t have money.” “No tengo efectivo” means you don’t have cash in hand. “Ando corto de dinero” means you’re short on money, and it feels softer than saying you’re broke.
Some phrases are regional. “Estoy pelado” is common in parts of Mexico and Central America. “Estoy tieso” is heard in Spain. “No tengo un peso” works in places that use or know the peso. These phrases can sound warm with friends, but they may confuse a learner if the region doesn’t use them.
Choose The Word By Setting
The right Spanish phrase depends on who is listening. With a teacher, boss, stranger, or bank clerk, use clear neutral wording. “Estoy sin dinero” and “no tengo dinero” do the job without slang. They won’t sound childish, harsh, or too dramatic.
With close friends, slang can add personality. “Ando corto de lana” is heard in Mexico, where “lana” can mean money. “Estoy pelado” may work in a casual chat. Still, slang travels poorly. A phrase that sounds normal in one country can sound odd in another.
For writing, tests, and formal tasks, choose the plain option. “Sin dinero” is easier to understand and less risky than “pelado” or “tieso.” A language teacher will accept it in most sentences, and a reader won’t wonder whether you meant slang, bankruptcy, or a broken object.
| Spanish Phrase | Best Meaning | Where It Fits |
|---|---|---|
| Estoy sin dinero | I’m broke or have no money | Neutral speech, travel, class, work |
| No tengo dinero | I don’t have money | Plain daily speech |
| Ando corto de dinero | I’m short on money | Casual, polite, less harsh |
| Estoy quebrado | I’m broke, sometimes financially ruined | Casual Latin American speech |
| Estoy arruinado | I’m ruined financially | Serious money trouble |
| Estoy pelado | I’m broke | Informal speech in some regions |
| Estoy tieso | I’m broke | Informal speech in Spain |
| Mi teléfono está roto | My phone is broken | Damaged objects, not money |
| La empresa está en quiebra | The company is bankrupt | Business or legal talk |
Watch The Gender Endings
Money adjectives can change with the speaker. A man can say “estoy arruinado.” A woman can say “estoy arruinada.” The same pattern works with “quebrado” and “quebrada.” If you speak for a group, use “arruinados” for a mixed or all-male group and “arruinadas” for an all-female group.
“Sin dinero” does not change. A man, woman, or group can all use it. That is one reason it is such a good first choice. It gives you a clean sentence without grammar traps.
Practice Sentences For Real Speech
Use “Estoy sin dinero esta semana” when you mean “I’m broke this week.” Use “No puedo salir; ando corto de dinero” when you want a softer reason for skipping plans. Use “Después del viaje, quedé sin dinero” when a trip emptied your budget.
For serious cases, say “Perdió el negocio y quedó arruinado.” That means he lost the business and was left financially ruined. For business bankruptcy, say “La empresa está en quiebra.” That phrase is more precise than “la empresa está rota,” which would sound like the company is physically broken.
| English Idea | Natural Spanish | Why It Works |
|---|---|---|
| I’m broke this week | Estoy sin dinero esta semana | Clear, temporary, neutral |
| I’m short on cash | Ando corto de dinero | Polite and less dramatic |
| My laptop is broken | Mi portátil está roto | Uses “roto” for damage |
| The store went bankrupt | La tienda quedó en quiebra | Matches business failure |
| We have no cash | No tenemos efectivo | Points to cash, not total poverty |
Common Mistakes With Broke In Spanish
The biggest mistake is using one Spanish word for every English meaning. English lets “broke” do a lot of work. Spanish wants more detail. Money, damage, bankruptcy, and low cash each need their own phrase.
Another mistake is using “pobre” too soon. “Estoy pobre” sounds unnatural in many settings, and “soy pobre” can describe a long-term social or economic condition. If you only forgot your wallet, lost your cash, or spent too much this month, use “sin dinero” or “corto de dinero.”
Learners can also overuse slang. Slang is fun, but it marks your speech by region and social setting. If you’re unsure which word locals use, plain Spanish wins. You can always learn the local phrase later through real conversations.
Money, Cash, And Credit Are Not The Same
“Dinero” means money in a broad sense. “Efectivo” means cash. “Saldo” can mean balance, such as phone credit or an account balance. If your prepaid phone has no balance, say “no tengo saldo.” If your wallet is empty, say “no tengo efectivo.” If your budget is gone, say “estoy sin dinero.”
This difference matters in daily life. A person can have money in a bank account but no cash at a café. A student can have phone credit but no spending money. A business can have sales but still be in debt. Spanish lets you say the exact problem without sounding stiff.
Best Phrase To Learn First
If you want one safe answer, learn “estoy sin dinero.” It is clear, polite, and easy to change. “Estamos sin dinero” works for a group. “Ella está sin dinero” works for someone else. “Me quedé sin dinero” means “I ran out of money,” which sounds natural after spending, travel, or a surprise bill.
Then add “roto” for objects. That pair solves most beginner mistakes: “estoy sin dinero” for no money and “está roto” for broken things. From there, add “ando corto de dinero” for a softer tone, “arruinado” for serious loss, and one local slang phrase only when you know it fits.
Good Spanish is not about picking the fanciest word. It is about matching the word to the real situation. If your meaning is money, start with “sin dinero.” If your meaning is damage, use “roto.” If your meaning is bankruptcy, use “en quiebra.” That small split makes your Spanish sound clear from the start. That split works every day.