perderlo
/pehr-DEHR-loh/
to lose it
A person misplacing a small object like a key, representing 'perderlo' as losing something.
perderlo(verb)
to lose it
?misplacing a masculine object
to lose him
?losing a male person in a crowd or a relationship
📝 In Action
Tengo el paraguas, pero no quiero perderlo.
A1I have the umbrella, but I don't want to lose it.
Él es mi mejor amigo y no quiero perderlo.
A2He is my best friend and I don't want to lose him.
💡 Grammar Points
The attached 'lo'
The 'lo' at the end means 'it' or 'him.' It only sticks to the end when the verb is in its base form (like 'perder') or a command. Otherwise, it jumps to the front of the verb.
Stem-changing verb
Notice how the 'e' in 'perder' changes to 'ie' in most forms (like 'lo pierdo'), but stays as 'e' when you say 'we' or 'you all'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Pronoun Placement
Mistake: "Yo quiero lo perder."
Correction: Yo quiero perderlo.
⭐ Usage Tips
It vs. Him
Remember that 'perderlo' can mean 'lose it' for a masculine object (like a 'teléfono') or 'lose him' for a person. Context is key!
A person arriving too late and watching the bus leave, representing 'perderlo' as missing a transport.
📝 In Action
El autobús viene ya; no podemos perderlo.
A2The bus is coming now; we can't miss it.
Habrá un concierto mañana, no quiero perderlo.
B1There will be a concert tomorrow, I don't want to miss it.
💡 Grammar Points
Translation shift
While 'perder' usually means 'to lose,' when you talk about a bus or a flight, it naturally translates to 'to miss' in English.
🔄 Conjugations
subjunctive
imperfect
present
indicative
preterite
imperfect
present
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: perderlo
Question 1 of 1
How would you say 'I am going to lose him'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Can 'perderlo' be used for a girl?
No. If you are talking about a female person or a feminine object (like 'la llave'), you must use 'perderla'.
Why is it not 'lo perder'?
In Spanish, if the verb is in its basic infinitive form, the pronoun 'lo' must either go before a conjugated verb or stick to the end of the infinitive. 'Perderlo' is the correct way to attach it.