Quebrado vs. partido vs. fraturado
When described bone injuries in Portuguese, the words quebrado, partido, and fraturado generally describe the same physical trauma but differ significantly in register (casual vs. medical) and regional usage (Brazil vs. Portugal).
Quebrado
A2This is the most common and informal term used in everyday speech, particularly in Brazilian Portuguese. When you are talking to friends or family about an injury, you will likely use quebrado.
Acho que meu braço está quebrado.
(I think my arm is broken.)
Ele não foi trabalhar porque tem o pé quebrado.
(He didn't go to work because he has a broken foot.)
Cuidado para não acabar com o nariz quebrado.
(Be careful not to end up with a broken nose.)
O dedo dele está quebrado em dois lugares.
(His finger is broken in two places.)
Partido
B1While this also means broken, its usage varies by region. In European Portuguese (Portugal), partido is the standard way to say a bone is broken in general conversation. In Brazilian Portuguese, partido is less common for bones (though still understood), but is the standard word used when referring to broken teeth.
O jogador saiu de campo com a perna partida.
(The player left the field with a broken leg.)
Ela mordeu uma pedra e ficou com o dente partido.
(She bit a stone and ended up with a broken tooth.)
Infelizmente, o osso da canela está partido.
(Unfortunately, the shin bone is broken.)
Ele precisa de cirurgia no tornozelo partido.
(He needs surgery on his broken ankle.)
Fraturado
B2This is the technical, medical term equivalent to fractured in English. It is distinctively checking and formal. You will hear doctors use fraturado when discussing X-rays, diagnoses, or serious trauma reports.
O raio-x confirmou que o fêmur está fraturado.
(The X-ray confirmed that the femur is fractured.)
A vítima foi levada ao hospital com o crânio fraturado.
(The victim was taken to the hospital with a fractured skull.)
Não houve deslocamento, mas o pulso está fraturado.
(There was no displacement, but the wrist is fractured.)
O médico disse que tenho três costelas fraturadas.
(The doctor said I have three fractured ribs.)
Summary
In summary, use quebrado for casual conversation in Brazil, use partido for casual conversation in Portugal (or specifically for teeth in Brazil), and use fraturado in medical or formal contexts regardless of the region.