Spanish · Everyday Verbs
"to lose" in Spanish: perder
perder
To lose in Spanish is perder. Say yo pierdo and perdí mi teléfono. Present changes e to ie: pierdo, pierdes.
Transit panic
Perdí mi billetera en el metro.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce perder
Say it
pehr-DEHR / PYEHR-doh
/peɾ.ˈdeɾ/
pehr-DEHR. Yo pierdo is PYEHR-doh. The ie is one syllable: pyehr.
"to lose" in Spanish: quick reference
| Spanish | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| perder | to lose Dictionary infinitive. | Dictionary infinitive. |
| yo pierdo | I lose Present; e→ie. | Present; e→ie. |
| perdí | I lost Simple past. | Simple past. |
| perder un partido | to lose a game Sports. | Sports. |
| ustedes pierden | you all lose Latin American plural you. | Latin American plural you. |
How to use perder in real life
- 1Transit panic
Perdí mi billetera en el metro.
I lost my wallet on the metro.
Perdí is past of perder.
- 2Habit
Siempre pierdo las llaves en casa.
I always lose the keys at home.
Pierdo is stem-changed present.
- 3Sports
No queremos perder este partido.
We don't want to lose this game.
Perder after querer.
Mistakes English speakers make with perder
Incorrect: Yo perdo las llaves.
Correct: Yo pierdo las llaves.
Stem change: pierdo from perder.
Incorrect: Yo perder mi teléfono ayer.
Correct: Perdí mi teléfono ayer.
Past: perdí, not infinitive perder.
Good to know
Perdí mi… is a common traveler line. Perder also covers lose a game. Se me perdió is a softer way Latin Americans report something went missing.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
At a hotel desk
ChatPal
¿Perdiste la llave de la habitación?
Did you lose the room key?
You
Sí, creo que la perdí en el lobby.
Yes, I think I lost it in the lobby.
ChatPal
No te preocupes. Pedimos otra. No quieres perder más tiempo.
Don't worry. We'll ask for another. You don't want to lose more time.
You
Gracias. Ya busco otra vez también.
Thanks. I'll look again too.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"to lose" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "to lose" in Spanish
How do I say I lose?
Yo pierdo.
Why pierdo not perdo?
Present e→ie: pierdo, pierdes, pierde.
I lost my phone?
Perdí mi teléfono.
How do you pronounce pierdo?
PYEHR-doh; ie like pyehr.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
Keep reading
- Y in Spanish AlphabetY in spanish alphabet. Learn how y works in the Spanish alphabet, from its names (ye and i griega) to its dual consonant and vowel pronunciation
- How to Practice Speaking Spanish with AI the Smart WayLearn how to practice speaking Spanish with AI using practical routines, realistic scenarios, and feedback loops that actually build real-world fluency.
