perder
to lose
Reviewed by: David WestfallCofounder
To lose something, whether an object, a game, or a chance
Encoding Strategies:
mnemonic
Purdue
a college basketball team
+
-er
verb suffix
Perder means to lose and sounds like Purdue0, whose team always seems to be losing.
perder
to lose (an object)
To stop having something because you can no longer find it or it has slipped away from you.
Perdí las llaves del coche otra vezI lost my car keys again
No quiero perder este anilloI don't want to lose this ring
to lose (a contest)
To come out on the losing side of a contest.
Perdimos el partido por un golWe lost the match by one goal
Si pierdes esta ronda, quedas fueraIf you lose this round, you're out
to lose (an amount or quality)
To end up with less of something than before.
Ha perdido cinco kilos este añoHe has lost five kilos this year
La tela pierde color con cada lavadaThe fabric loses color with every wash
to miss (an event or opportunity)
When something leaves without you or passes you by, you have lost your chance at it. A flight you fail to catch is a flight you lost.
Perdí el vuelo por el tráficoI missed my flight because of the traffic
No te pierdas esta oportunidadDon't miss this opportunity
to waste (time or money)
Time or money spent on nothing is time or money lost, so losing it is wasting it.
No pierdas el tiempo con esoDon't waste your time on that
No pierdas tu dinero en ese cursoDon't waste your money on that course
perderse
to get lost (in a place)
When you lose yourself, you no longer know where you are or how to get where you were going.
Nos perdimos volviendo del puebloWe got lost coming back from the town
Me perdí en el centro y llegué tardeI got lost downtown and arrived late
to get lost, to be lost (in an explanation)
When you lose the thread of an explanation, you can no longer follow where it is going.
Me perdí cuando empezó a hablar de númerosI got lost when he started talking about numbers
Explícamelo otra vez, que estoy perdidaExplain it to me again, I'm lost
to miss out on, to miss (an event or opportunity)
Something good happens and you are not there for it. The reflexive marks you as the one who lost out on it.
Te perdiste una fiesta increíbleYou missed out on an incredible party
No me pierdo un concierto suyoI never miss one of their concerts