perdedor
“perdedor” means “loser” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
loser
Also: underdog
📝 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.
losing, defeatist
Also: unsuccessful
📝 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.
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: perdedor
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses the feminine form of the word?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
The word comes directly from the Spanish verb 'perder' (to lose) combined with the common suffix '-dor,' which means 'the person or thing that performs the action.' It literally means 'the one who loses.'
First recorded: Medieval Spanish (derived from Latin *perdere*)
Cognates (Related words)
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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).