perder
Lemma Details
Translation: to lose; to waste; to miss; to ruin; to fail
Part of Speech: verb
Etymology: Perder comes from Latin 'perdere', which was formed from the prefix 'per-' (thoroughly, completely) and 'dare' (to give). The original meaning was 'to give completely away', which evolved to mean 'to lose' or 'to destroy'. This Latin root also gave English words like 'perdition' (state of complete ruin) and is related to English words with similar meanings of loss or destruction.
Commonality: 90%
Guessability: 50%
Register: neutral
Example Usage
Perdí mis llaves esta mañana.
I lost my keys this morning.
No quiero perder el tren.
I don't want to miss the train.
Estás perdiendo el tiempo con ese proyecto.
You're wasting your time with that project.
El equipo perdió el partido por dos goles.
The team lost the match by two goals.
Si sigues así, vas a perder tu trabajo.
If you continue like this, you're going to lose your job.
Mnemonics
- Think of 'perdition' in English (state of being lost or destroyed) to remember 'perder' means 'to lose'.
- The 'per-' in 'perder' can remind you of 'permanent loss'.
- Notice how 'perder' has an irregular stem change to 'pierd-' in some forms, like losing the 'e' and gaining an 'i'.
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Synonyms
Antonyms
Cultural Context
In Spanish culture, 'perder' is used in many contexts beyond just losing physical objects. It's common in sports, games, and discussions about missed opportunities. The reflexive form 'perderse' (to get lost) is particularly important for travelers and in giving directions.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: While 'perder' means 'to lose', 'pedir' means 'to ask for' or 'to request'. They look similar but have completely different meanings.
Notes: Both verbs have irregular conjugations in some tenses, but 'perder' changes its stem to 'pierd-' in present tense, while 'pedir' changes to 'pid-'.
Mnemonic: 'Perder' has an 'r' like 'ruin' or 'remove' (things associated with loss), while 'pedir' has an 'i' like 'inquire' (asking for something).
Explanation: 'Perder' means 'to lose' while 'poder' means 'to be able to' or 'can'. They differ by just one letter but have completely different meanings and uses.
Notes: Both are common irregular verbs in Spanish, but they follow different patterns of irregularity.
Mnemonic: Think of 'perder' with 'r' for 'relinquish' (giving up something), and 'poder' with 'o' for 'opportunity' (having the ability to do something).