Break in French
Verb rompre: to break

The verb "to break" has several meanings in English.

One of them is synonymous with the noun rupture, and the French word rompre: is exactly the same. In this case, the French verb rompre means "to break" and even if it is limited to certain situations, it can still be used in many. Here are a few examples of the use of the French verb rompre:

L'accord entre les deux Nations a été rompu (past participle) par violation d'un article du traité qui garantissait la paix.
The agreement between the two Nations has been broken through the violation of an article of the treaty that ensured peace.

Les deux parties se sont concertées pour rompre le contrat qui les lie.
The two parties met and talked in order to terminate the contract that binds them.

Elle a rompu avec son petit copain car il avait les mains baladeuses avec d'autres filles.
She broke up with her boyfriend because he had wandering hands with other girls.

Idioms using the French verb rompre:

Rompre le pain : to break bread.
Rompre la glace : to break the ice.
Rompre le charme : to break the spell.
Rompre avec le passé (very polite) : to break with the past.
Applaudir à tout rompre : to clap and cheer.

The French verb rompre in context:

Janvier 2008. Le ministre français de la Coopération Internationale, Jean-Marie Bockel rappelle à N. Sarkozy sa promesse de rompre les relations de la France avec des dictateurs africains.

En effet, depuis son élection, le Président n'a fait aucun progrès en la matière et le ministre, qui se considère plus pragmatique, empresse M. Sarkozy de mettre un terme à la Françafrique (ensemble d'accords établis entre la France et certains pays africains, dont quelques-uns sont d'anciennes colonies françaises).

Mais l'ultimatum de Bockel a déclenché les foudres du Président étant donné que, contrairement à ses engagements de départ, il n'a aucune intention de rompre les accords qui le lient à ces dictateurs africains.

Et pour cause ! Quelques associations en faveur de la rupture entre la France et ses pays revendiquent les mesures qui suivent (la liste ci-dessous n'est pas exhaustive) :

Reprendre les objets illégalement obtenus en France par ces dictateurs.

Rendre publiques les arrangements confidentiels de défense liant la France avec certains pays africains.

Annuler les crédits que l'Etat français fait payer aux populations alors que c'est aux dictateurs qui les ont opprimées que l'on a prêté.

De plus, le ministre a dénoncé le fait que la France continue à verser des aides à ces pays, à raison de 100 milliards d'euros annuels dont 30 s'évaporent.

M. Bockel a conclu son discours en rappelant que ces nations possédaient du pétrole et d'autres matières premières mais qu'elles les gaspillaient ou s'en servaient mal et que les populations ne recevaient jamais aucune aide de la part de leur gouvernement.

English translation

January 2008. French Minister for International Cooperation, Jean-Marie Bockel reminds N. Sarkozy of his promise to break France's relations with African dictators.

Indeed, since his election, the President has not made any improvement in this field and the Minister, who considers himself more pragmatic, urges Mr. Sarkozy to put an end to the "Françafrique" (set of agreements established between France and some African countries, some of them being former French colonies).

But Bockel's ultimatum has triggered the President's anger, as, in opposition to his initial commitment, he has no intention of breaking the agreements that bind him to these African dictators.
And he has many reasons; some associations that are in favour of the rupture between France and these countries demand the following measures (the list below is not exhaustive):

Confiscating the ill-gotten gains of these dicators in France.

Making public the secret defence agreements binding France with certain African countries.

Cancelling the credit that the French state is paying the people (population), as it lent this money to the dictators who oppressed those people.

Besides, the Minister denounced the fact that France is still helping those countries, lending them 100 billion euros per year of which 30 billion just disappears.

Mr Bockel concluded by saying these nations had oil and other raw materials but they just waste or mishandle them and that the populations never receive any help from their government.

Written and compiled by Charlotte Chateau.

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French verb to break is rompre