perdieron
/pehr-DYEH-rohn/
they lost
In this context, 'perdieron' means they lost an object or possession.
perdieron(verb)
they lost
?referring to objects, money, or direction
,you lost (plural/formal)
?referring to objects, money, or direction
they misplaced
?when talking about an object
📝 In Action
Ellos perdieron las llaves del coche ayer.
A2They lost the car keys yesterday.
Ustedes perdieron mucho dinero en esa inversión, ¿verdad?
B1You (all) lost a lot of money in that investment, right?
💡 Grammar Points
Action Completed in the Past
'Perdieron' uses the Preterite tense, which is for actions that started and finished completely at a specific time in the past (like 'yesterday' or 'last week').
Who Lost?
This form always refers to the plural subject: 'ellos' (they, masculine), 'ellas' (they, feminine), or 'ustedes' (you all/you plural formal).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing Past Tenses
Mistake: "Usando 'perderían' (conditional) instead of 'perdieron' (preterite)."
Correction: 'Perderían' means 'they would lose'. Use 'perdieron' for the simple fact that the loss happened.
⭐ Usage Tips
Possession is Key
When talking about losing an item, Spanish often uses the definite article (el, la, los, las) instead of the possessive (mi, tu, su) if the owner is clear from the subject: 'Perdieron las llaves' (They lost the keys).
Here, 'perdieron' means they missed transport or an event.
perdieron(verb)
they missed
?transport, opportunity, or event
,you missed (plural/formal)
?transport, opportunity, or event
they failed to catch
?a bus or train
📝 In Action
Llegaron tarde y perdieron el último tren a casa.
B1They arrived late and missed the last train home.
¡Qué pena! Perdieron la oportunidad de ver el eclipse.
B1What a shame! They missed the opportunity to see the eclipse.
💡 Grammar Points
Missing vs. Not Attending
Use 'perdieron' when they physically failed to catch something (like a train). Use 'no asistieron' or 'faltaron' if they just chose not to attend an event.
When referring to a competition, 'perdieron' means they lost the match.
perdieron(verb)
they lost
?a game, match, or competition
,you lost (plural/formal)
?a game, match, or competition
they were defeated
?in a battle or competition
📝 In Action
Lucharon duro, pero perdieron el partido por un punto.
B1They fought hard, but they lost the match by one point.
Si ustedes perdieron la apuesta, deben pagar la cena.
B2If you (all) lost the bet, you must pay for dinner.
⭐ Usage Tips
Opposite of 'Ganaron'
In sports, 'perdieron' is the simple past opposite of 'ganaron' (they won). It's used directly before the name of the competition or opponent.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: perdieron
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'perdieron' in the sense of 'missing transport'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'perdieron' a regular or irregular verb form?
The infinitive verb *perder* is considered irregular because its stem changes (e to ie) in the present tense (e.g., *pierdo*). However, the specific form 'perdieron' is part of the Preterite tense, which follows the regular conjugation pattern for -er verbs.
How is 'perdieron' different from 'perdían'?
'Perdieron' (Preterite) describes a single, finished action: 'They lost the match yesterday.' 'Perdían' (Imperfect) describes repeated or ongoing actions in the past: 'They were always losing when they played.'