perdedores
/pehr-deh-DOH-rehs/
losers
Visualizing "perdedores" (losers): People who have failed in a contest.
perdedores(noun)
losers
?people who have failed in a contest
the defeated
?military or political context
📝 In Action
Los perdedores se quedaron en silencio mientras el otro equipo celebraba.
A2The losers stayed silent while the other team celebrated.
En esta carrera, no hay perdedores, solo gente que aprende a levantarse.
B1In this race, there are no losers, only people who learn to get back up.
💡 Grammar Points
Masculine Plural
Even if the group includes women, Spanish often defaults to the masculine plural form ('perdedores') when referring to mixed groups of people.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using the singular verb form
Mistake: "Los perdedores era triste."
Correction: Los perdedores eran tristes. (The noun is plural, so the verb must also be plural.)
⭐ Usage Tips
Context is Key
While often used neutrally in sports, calling someone a 'perdedor' in everyday conversation can be highly insulting or critical.
Visualizing "perdedores" (losing): Describing a team or side that is defeated.
perdedores(adjective)
losing
?describing a team or side
unsuccessful
?describing strategies or efforts
📝 In Action
Mostraron unos rostros perdedores después de la votación.
B1They showed losing faces after the vote.
Esos planes perdedores nos costaron mucho tiempo y dinero.
B2Those losing/unsuccessful plans cost us a lot of time and money.
💡 Grammar Points
Adjective Agreement
Remember that 'perdedores' must agree with the noun it modifies. Since it is masculine plural, it describes masculine plural nouns (e.g., 'equipos perdedores', not 'estrategias perdedores').
❌ Common Pitfalls
Mixing up gender
Mistake: "Las estrategias perdedores."
Correction: Las estrategias perdedoras. (Strategy is feminine, so the adjective must also be feminine.)
⭐ Usage Tips
Positioning
Like many Spanish adjectives, 'perdedores' usually comes after the noun it describes: 'jugadores perdedores' (losing players).
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: perdedores
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'perdedores' to describe a characteristic (adjective use)?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'perdedores' always negative?
Not necessarily. In a literal sense (like a sports game), it simply means 'those who lost.' However, when used as an insult or to describe someone's character, it is definitely negative.
What is the difference between 'perdedores' and 'derrotados'?
They are very similar. 'Derrotados' (defeated ones) often implies a more formal or decisive loss, especially in war or major competitions, while 'perdedores' is used more broadly and sometimes has a stronger connotation of failure or habitual losing.