perderte
/per-DER-teh/
to get lost (yourself)
The reflexive meaning, 'to get lost yourself', is shown by the person wandering alone.
perderte(Verb)
to get lost (yourself)
?Reflexive action attached to the infinitive
,to miss out (on something)
?Figurative meaning
to become absorbed
?When focusing intensely on something
📝 In Action
Tienes que tener cuidado para no perderte en la multitud.
A2You have to be careful not to get lost in the crowd.
No puedes perderte este concierto, será increíble.
B1You can't miss out on this concert, it will be incredible.
Me gusta leer y perderme en las historias de fantasía.
B2I like to read and get absorbed in fantasy stories.
💡 Grammar Points
Infinitive + 'te'
When you use a pronoun like 'te' (you) attached to the end of a verb, it means the action is either happening to you or is being done by you to yourself.
Stem Change Alert
The vowel 'e' changes to 'ie' in the present tense forms of 'perder' for most subjects (I, you, he/she, they), but not for 'we' or 'vosotros'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Forgetting the Reflexive
Mistake: "Usar 'perder' cuando quieres decir 'perderse'. (e.g., 'Yo perdí en el parque'.)"
Correction: Use the 'se' ending when you mean 'to get lost' or 'to lose yourself': 'Yo me perdí en el parque' (I got lost in the park).
⭐ Usage Tips
Using 'te' in Sentences
'Perderte' often follows a conjugated verb, like 'Debes evitar perderte' (You must avoid getting lost) or 'Quiero perderte de vista' (I want to lose sight of you).
The transitive meaning, 'to lose you', is shown by one person sadly watching another person leave or disappear.
perderte(Verb)
to lose you
?Transitive action (someone loses the 'tú' person)
to fail to keep you
?Relational context
📝 In Action
Haré todo lo posible por no perderte nunca.
B1I will do everything possible never to lose you.
Si corres demasiado rápido, voy a perderte de vista.
A2If you run too fast, I'm going to lose sight of you.
Es horrible tener que perderte como cliente.
B2It's awful having to lose you as a client.
💡 Grammar Points
Direct Object 'te'
In this case, 'te' is the person receiving the action ('you'). The subject of the sentence (e.g., 'I', 'he', 'we') is the one performing the losing.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Pronoun Placement
Mistake: "Using the pronoun before the verb when it's an infinitive: 'Te voy a perder'."
Correction: While 'Te voy a perder' is also correct, 'Voy a perderte' (with the pronoun attached) is often preferred for emphasis and is the structure represented by 'perderte'.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: perderte
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'perderte' in the sense of 'to miss out on'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is 'te' attached to the end of the verb?
In Spanish, when you use the infinitive form of a verb (like 'perder'), you have the choice to attach the pronouns ('me,' 'te,' 'lo,' 'la,' etc.) directly to the end, or place them before the conjugated verb that precedes the infinitive. 'Perderte' is the attached style.
Is 'perderte' the same as 'te perder'?
No. 'Te perder' is grammatically incorrect. You must either attach the pronoun to the infinitive ('perderte') or place it before the main conjugated verb ('Te voy a perder').