perdido
/pehr-DEE-doh/
lost
The most common meaning of perdido is 'lost' or 'missing', often used to describe someone unable to find their way.
📝 In Action
Creo que estamos perdidos. ¿Tienes un mapa?
A2I think we're lost. Do you have a map?
He buscado por todas partes, pero mi libro sigue perdido.
B1I've looked everywhere, but my book is still missing.
💡 Grammar Points
Matches the Noun
As an adjective, 'perdido' changes to match the person or thing it describes. Use 'perdida' for feminine things, and add an '-s' for plural things ('perdidos', 'perdidas').
Use with 'Estar'
To say something or someone is lost, you'll almost always use the verb 'estar' (e.g., 'El gato está perdido'), because being lost is a temporary state, not a permanent characteristic.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using 'Ser' instead of 'Estar'
Mistake: "Mi cartera es perdida."
Correction: Mi cartera está perdida. Use 'estar' for the temporary state of being lost. Saying 'es perdida' sounds very unnatural.
⭐ Usage Tips
From the verb 'perder'
'Perdido' comes from the verb 'perder' (to lose). Think of it as the result of that action: if you 'pierdes' (lose) your keys, your keys are now 'perdidas' (lost).
Perdido can describe something that is 'wasted' or 'missed', such as tiempo perdido (wasted time) or an oportunidad perdida (missed opportunity).
📝 In Action
Discutir sobre eso es tiempo perdido.
B1Arguing about that is wasted time.
Fue una oportunidad perdida para aprender algo nuevo.
B1It was a missed opportunity to learn something new.
⭐ Usage Tips
Abstract 'Losing'
This meaning extends the idea of 'lost' from a physical location to abstract things like time or chances. If you don't use it, it's 'lost'.
Colloquially, perdido can mean 'hopeless' or 'a lost cause', describing a person or situation beyond repair.
perdido(Adjective)
hopeless
?a person or situation beyond help
a lost cause
?something destined to fail
,ruined
?morally or financially
📝 In Action
Intentar arreglar ese coche viejo es un caso perdido.
B2Trying to fix that old car is a lost cause.
Desde que dejó los estudios, sus padres piensan que es un chico perdido.
B2Since he dropped out of school, his parents think he's a lost cause.
💡 Grammar Points
Use with 'Ser'
Unlike being physically lost (estar perdido), when you call someone or something a 'lost cause', you often use the verb 'ser' (e.g., 'es un caso perdido'), because you're describing a more permanent characteristic.
⭐ Usage Tips
Strong Connotation
Calling a person 'perdido' in this sense is quite strong and judgmental. It implies they are on a bad path in life, involved in vices, or have no future.
Used informally, perdido means 'head over heels' or 'lost in love' (perdido por alguien).
📝 In Action
Está completamente perdido por su nueva novia.
C1He is completely head over heels for his new girlfriend.
Desde que la conoció, anda perdido de amor.
C1Since he met her, he's been lost in love.
⭐ Usage Tips
Structure: 'perdido por alguien'
This romantic meaning almost always follows the pattern 'estar perdido por' + the person you're in love with. It conveys a sense of being so in love you've 'lost' your senses.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: perdido
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'perdido' to mean 'wasted'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between 'ser perdido' and 'estar perdido'?
Great question! It's all about temporary vs. permanent. You use 'estar perdido' to say someone or something is physically lost, because that's a temporary state ('Estoy perdido en Madrid'). You use 'ser' in the specific phrase 'ser un caso perdido' to mean 'to be a lost cause', which is seen as a more permanent, defining characteristic.
Is 'perdido' always masculine?
No, it's an adjective, so it needs to match the thing it describes. If you're talking about a feminine noun, you use 'perdida'. For example, 'la llave perdida' (the lost key). If it's plural, you add an 's': 'los niños perdidos' (the lost children) or 'las llaves perdidas' (the lost keys).
Can I use 'perdido' as a noun?
Yes, but it's less common and can be a bit old-fashioned or literary. You might hear someone called 'un perdido', meaning a dissolute person or a scoundrel. However, focusing on its use as an adjective ('lost', 'wasted', 'hopeless') will be much more useful for everyday conversation.