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perder means to lose / to miss — a common term in Essential Spanish. Learn how it's used in a real-world example.

📅 Published: November 3, 2025

📘 Essential Spanish

perder

verb • /[pehr-DER]/

to lose / to miss

Example:

No quiero perder el tren.

I don’t want to miss the train.

🧠 What does perder mean?

Perder is a common Spanish verb with two primary meanings: 'to lose' and 'to miss'. As 'to lose', it refers to misplacing an object (perder las llaves), losing a competition (perder un partido), or losing something abstract like weight or hope. As 'to miss', it is used for transportation (perder el tren) or for an opportunity (perder una oportunidad). Perder is an irregular verb with an e-ie stem change in the present indicative, present subjunctive, and imperative forms (e.g., yo pierdo, tú pierdes, él pierde).

📚 Extra examples

  • Si no te apuras, vamos a perder el autobús.
    If you don't hurry, we are going to miss the bus.
  • El equipo perdió el campeonato en el último minuto.
    The team lost the championship in the last minute.
  • Espero no perder el contacto contigo cuando te mudes.
    I hope not to lose contact with you when you move.
  • Tuve cuidado para no perder mi pasaporte en el aeropuerto.
    I was careful not to lose my passport at the airport.

💡 Did You Know?

The reflexive form, 'perderse', means 'to get lost'. For example, 'Nos perdimos en el bosque' means 'We got lost in the forest'. It can also be used to mean 'to miss out on something', as in 'Te perdiste una gran fiesta' (You missed out on a great party), which is distinct from simply missing an event.

🔁 Synonyms & opposites of "perder"

Synonyms: extraviar, desaprovechar, malgastar
Opposites: encontrar, ganar, hallar, aprovechar

🔍 See more essential spanish words

❓ FAQ

How do you say 'to lose / to miss' in Spanish?
The most common way to say 'to lose' or 'to miss' (in the sense of transportation or an opportunity) in Spanish is 'perder'.
How do you pronounce 'perder' in Spanish?
The word 'perder' is pronounced /per-DER/. The stress falls on the second syllable.
How do you use 'perder' in a sentence?
An example sentence is: 'Siempre pierdo mis gafas.' (I always lose my glasses.) Another is: 'Salí tarde y perdí el tren de las ocho.' (I left late and I missed the eight o'clock train.)
What is the English translation of 'perder'?
The English translation of 'perder' is 'to lose' or 'to miss'.
Does 'perder' change for gender or number?
No, as a verb, 'perder' does not change for gender or number. It is conjugated according to the subject and tense. For example: 'él pierde' (he loses), 'ellas pierden' (they lose).
Is 'perder' common in everyday Spanish?
Yes, 'perder' is a very common verb used frequently in daily conversations in all Spanish-speaking regions.
Does 'perder' have slang or double meanings?
The reflexive form 'perderse' means 'to get lost', as in 'Me perdí en el centro de la ciudad' (I got lost downtown). The expression 'perder la cabeza' is an idiom meaning 'to lose one's mind'.
Is 'perder' used differently in Spain vs Latin America?
The primary meanings of 'perder' ('to lose', 'to miss') are consistent across Spain and Latin America. Regional variations are minimal for this core verb.
How do you conjugate 'perder' in Spanish?
'Perder' is an irregular -er verb with an e-ie stem change. For example, in the present tense: 'yo pierdo', 'tú pierdes', 'él/ella/usted pierde', 'nosotros/as perdemos', 'vosotros/as perdéis', 'ellos/ellas/ustedes pierden'. Note that 'nosotros' and 'vosotros' do not have the stem change.

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