perdedor
/pehr-deh-DOR/
loser
When used as a noun, perdedor means a person who fails or is defeated, or a "loser."
perdedor(noun)
loser
?person who fails or is defeated
underdog
?when referring to a team or person expected to lose
📝 In Action
El perdedor de la carrera felicitó al ganador con un apretón de manos.
A2The loser of the race congratulated the winner with a handshake.
En el juego, el perdedor tiene que lavar los platos.
A1In the game, the person who loses has to wash the dishes.
Después de la votación, los perdedores aceptaron los resultados.
B1After the vote, the defeated ones accepted the results.
💡 Grammar Points
Gender Change
This word changes form depending on the gender of the person: use 'perdedor' for a man and 'perdedora' for a woman.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using the Feminine Form
Mistake: "La perdedor fue Juan."
Correction: El perdedor fue Juan. (The word must match the gender of the person, even if the person's name is mentioned later.)
⭐ Usage Tips
Emotional Weight
While it can be used neutrally (especially in sports), using 'perdedor' to describe a person's character is usually very negative and insulting.
As an adjective, perdedor describes something that is "losing," like a team or a streak.
perdedor(adjective)
losing
?describing a team or streak
,defeatist
?describing an attitude
unsuccessful
?general description of failure
📝 In Action
El equipo tuvo una racha perdedora de cinco partidos.
B1The team had a losing streak of five games.
No puedes tener esa actitud perdedora si quieres triunfar.
B2You can't have that defeatist attitude if you want to succeed.
💡 Grammar Points
Adjective Agreement
As an adjective, 'perdedor' must match the noun it describes. For example, 'actitud' (attitude) is feminine, so you must use 'actitud perdedora'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Placement
This adjective usually follows the noun it modifies, like in 'una racha perdedora' (a losing streak).
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: perdedor
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses the feminine form of the word?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'perdedor' always an insult?
Not always. When used neutrally, especially in sports or games (e.g., 'el perdedor del partido'), it simply means the person who didn't win. However, using it to describe someone's personality or life status is usually considered a strong insult.
How do I make 'perdedor' plural?
You add '-es' to the end. For masculine plural, use 'perdedores' (The losers). For feminine plural, use 'perdedoras' (The female losers).