In Spanish, perder and perderse are related verbs with distinct meanings and usages. Perder means "to lose," and it is used when someone causes something to be lost, misses an event, or misses transportation. Perderse is the pronominal form and means "to get lost" (referring to a person losing their way) or "to miss out" (when something escapes one's attention or experience).
- perder = to lose (something, someone, an event, transportation)
- perderse = to get lost (physically or metaphorically), to miss out
**perder** means to lose, while **perderse** means to get lost or to miss out.
Perder: to lose
Perder expresses the idea of losing something, missing something (like an event), or not catching (like transportation). It is a regular -er verb.
- Something concrete or abstract can be lost.
- It is used for missing events or appointments.
- It is also used for missing transportation or opportunities.
Examples of Perder
| Context | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| To lose an object | Perdí mis llaves. | I lost my keys. |
| To lose a game | Ellos perdieron el partido. | They lost the game. |
| To miss an event | Perdimos la reunión. | We missed the meeting. |
| To miss (transport) | Perdiste el tren. | You missed the train. |
**perder** is used for losing things, missing events, or missing transportation.
Perderse: to get lost / to miss out
Perderse is the reflexive form and changes the meaning:
- To get lost: When someone loses their way (usually for people, not objects).
- To miss out: When a person misses an experience or doesn't participate (sometimes used for shows, events, or important information).
Examples of Perderse (literal & figurative)
| Meaning | Spanish (literal) | English (literal) |
|---|---|---|
| To get lost | Me perdí en la ciudad. | I got lost in the city. |
| To get lost (they) | Se perdieron en el bosque. | They got lost in the forest. |
| Meaning | Spanish (figurative) | English (figurative) |
| ------------------ | ------------------------------ | ---------------------------------- |
| To miss out | Me perdí la fiesta. | I missed the party. |
| To miss info | Se perdió el anuncio. | He/She missed the announcement. |
**perderse** is used for getting lost or missing out on experiences.
Conclusion
perder and perderse are closely related but used differently: perder for losing things or opportunities, perderse for getting lost or missing out.
- perder = to lose, miss (an event or transportation)
- perderse = to get lost (literally), to miss out (figuratively)