Inklingo
← Dictionary

perdidos

/per-DEE-doss/

lost

A bright red rubber ball is partially obscured by tall, dense green grass, suggesting it is lost and unable to be found.

This object is 'lost' (perdido) because it is unable to be found beneath the tall grass.

perdidos(Adjective)

mA2

lost

?

unable to be found

,

missing

?

not present

Also:

astray

?

wandering off course

,

hopeless

?

figurative/colloquial, describing people

📝 In Action

Los documentos importantes están perdidos en el sistema.

A2

The important documents are lost in the system.

Estábamos completamente perdidos sin el mapa del pueblo.

A2

We were completely lost without the town map.

Los niños se quedaron perdidos en el bosque por una hora.

B1

The children remained lost in the forest for an hour.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • extraviados (misplaced)
  • desorientados (disoriented)

Antonyms

  • encontrados (found)
  • localizados (located)

Common Collocations

  • dar por perdidos – to give up on (something/someone)
  • sentirse perdidos – to feel lost (emotionally or physically)

💡 Grammar Points

Agreement Rule

"Perdidos" is the masculine plural form. It must match the gender and number of the noun it describes (e.g., 'los libros perdidos', 'las cartas perdidas').

Past Participle as Adjective

This word comes from the verb 'perder' (to lose). When used with 'estar' or 'ser', it acts like a descriptive adjective, meaning 'in a state of being lost'.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Using the Wrong Verb

Mistake: "Soy perdidos (I am lost - plural)."

Correction: Estamos perdidos (We are lost). Use the verb 'estar' (to be in a state or condition) when talking about being lost.

⭐ Usage Tips

Remember the 'S'

Since you are talking about more than one item, don't forget the final 's' in 'perdidos' to show plurality.

Two small figures, an adult and a child, stand looking confused at a winding dirt path that splits into two directions deep within a dense forest.

These two people are 'the lost ones' (los perdidos) because they are physically lost in the woods.

perdidos(Noun)

mB1

the lost ones

?

people who are physically or spiritually lost

,

the missing

?

people who cannot be found

📝 In Action

El refugio siempre ayuda a los perdidos y desamparados.

B2

The shelter always helps the lost ones and the homeless.

Existe una leyenda sobre un valle donde viven los perdidos.

B1

There is a legend about a valley where the lost ones live.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • náufragos (shipwrecked people)

💡 Grammar Points

Adjective to Noun

In Spanish, you can often turn an adjective into a noun by putting an article (like 'los') in front of it. 'Los perdidos' means 'the lost people'.

⭐ Usage Tips

Literary Use

This noun form is often found in literature, news reports about missing persons, or when speaking metaphorically about people who feel confused or without direction.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: perdidos

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence uses 'perdidos' correctly as an adjective?

📚 More Resources

Frequently Asked Questions

How is 'perdidos' different from 'perdidas'?

'Perdidos' is used to describe multiple masculine items or groups (like 'los libros perdidos'), while 'perdidas' is used for multiple feminine items or groups (like 'las maletas perdidas'). They mean the same thing, but they must match the gender of the noun they describe.

If I am a woman, should I say 'Estoy perdido' or 'Estoy perdida'?

You should use 'Estoy perdida' (feminine singular) because the adjective must match your gender. If you are with male friends, you would say 'Estamos perdidos' (masculine plural is the default for mixed groups).