extraviar
Lemma Details
Translation: to lose; to misplace; to lead astray; to mislead; to disorient
Part of Speech: verb
Etymology: From Latin 'extra' (outside, beyond) + 'via' (way, road, path). The word literally means 'to go off the path' or 'to go astray'. This connection to paths and roads helps understand why the word refers both to physically losing objects and metaphorically leading someone astray. The English cognate 'extravigate' (to wander outside the path) is rare, but the components are recognizable in common words like 'extra' and 'via'.
Commonality: 60%
Guessability: 40%
Register: neutral
Mnemonics
- Think 'extra via' - going off the extra path leads to getting lost or misplaced.
- Imagine an 'extra voyage' that takes you off course - you've been 'extraviado'.
- Connect it to 'stray' in English - to extraviar something is to let it stray away from you.
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Synonyms
Cultural Context
In Spanish-speaking countries, 'extraviar' is commonly used in public announcements about lost items or in travel contexts when discussing getting lost. The reflexive form 'extraviarse' is particularly common when talking about people becoming disoriented in unfamiliar places.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: While 'extraviar' means to lose or misplace something, 'extrañar' means to miss someone or something, or to find something strange.
Notes: Both verbs start with 'extra-' but have completely different meanings and uses in everyday conversation.
Mnemonic: 'Extraviar' has 'via' (path) - losing your path; 'extrañar' has 'ñ' which can remind you of the Spanish letter unique to words about feelings.
Explanation: 'Extraviar' means to lose or lead astray, while 'extraditar' means to extradite or hand over a person to another country's authorities.
Confused word:
El criminal fue extraditado a su país de origen.
The criminal was extradited to his country of origin.
Notes: These words have very different contexts - one is about losing things or direction, the other is a legal term.
Mnemonic: 'Extraviar' contains 'via' (path) - losing your way; 'extraditar' contains 'dit' which sounds like 'dit' in extradition.