The word broke is commonly used to describe someone who has run out of money or is financially unable to meet their expenses. When someone says, “I am broke,” they mean they have little or no money left. But how did a word that originally meant something damaged acquire a financial meaning?
Broke is the past tense of the verb break. Its association with financial hardship evolved from the idea of being financially broken or unable to repay debts. The related adjective broken, meaning financially ruined, dates back to the late 16th century, while broke in the sense of being insolvent was recorded as early as 1716.
There is also an interesting historical connection with the word bankrupt. It comes from the Italian banca rotta, literally meaning “broken bench”. Medieval Italian moneylenders conducted business from benches in marketplaces. In the past, when a moneylender became insolvent, his bench was physically broken to indicate that he could no longer conduct business.
Although broke and bankrupt have distinct etymological histories, both reflect the idea of financial failure. Today, broke remains a popular informal expression for having little or no money, proving how language evolves with everyday experiences.
