Inklingo

How to Say "losing" in Spanish

English → Spanish

perdiendo

/per-dyén-do//peɾˈdjen.do/

VerbA1General
Use this when describing the ongoing action of a team, player, or entity currently experiencing a loss in a game, competition, or battle.
A blue bunny sitting sadly on a racetrack after giving up, while a red turtle celebrates winning the race in the background.

Examples

El equipo local está perdiendo 3 a 1.

The home team is losing 3 to 1.

¿Estás perdiendo peso con la nueva dieta?

Are you losing weight with the new diet?

Siento que estoy perdiendo mi tiempo en esta reunión.

I feel like I am wasting my time in this meeting.

The Progressive Action

In Spanish, we use 'estar' (to be) + 'perdiendo' to show that the action of losing is happening right now: 'Estoy perdiendo' (I am losing).

Gerunds Stay the Same

Unlike adjectives, the gerund 'perdiendo' always stays the same regardless of who is doing the losing (male, female, plural, singular). 'Ella está perdiendo,' 'Ellos están perdiendo.'

Forgetting the Helper Verb

Mistake: “Using 'Yo perdiendo' to mean 'I am losing'.”

Correction: The gerund needs a 'helper' verb, usually 'estar'. The correct phrase is 'Yo estoy perdiendo'.

perdedor

pehr-deh-DOR/peɾðeˈðoɾ/

AdjectiveB1General
Use this adjective to describe a team, streak, or individual that has a history or tendency of losing.
Two teams of cartoon animals playing tug-of-war. One team is clearly being pulled across the center line and looks exhausted, indicating they are the losing team.

Examples

El equipo tuvo una racha perdedora de cinco partidos.

The team had a losing streak of five games.

No puedes tener esa actitud perdedora si quieres triunfar.

You can't have that defeatist attitude if you want to succeed.

Adjective Agreement

As an adjective, 'perdedor' must match the noun it describes. For example, 'actitud' (attitude) is feminine, so you must use 'actitud perdedora'.

perdedores

pehr-deh-DOH-rehs/peɾðeˈðoɾes/

AdjectiveB1General
Use the plural form of 'perdedor' when describing multiple entities, such as a group of people or teams, that are losing or appear defeated.
A high quality simple colorful storybook illustration showing one sports team looking sad and sitting down on a field, while the opposing team celebrates a victory in the background.

Examples

Mostraron unos rostros perdedores después de la votación.

They showed losing faces after the vote.

Esos planes perdedores nos costaron mucho tiempo y dinero.

Those losing/unsuccessful plans cost us a lot of time and money.

Adjective Agreement

Remember that 'perdedores' must agree with the noun it modifies. Since it is masculine plural, it describes masculine plural nouns (e.g., 'equipos perdedores', not 'estrategias perdedores').

Mixing up gender

Mistake: “Las estrategias perdedores.”

Correction: Las estrategias perdedoras. (Strategy is feminine, so the adjective must also be feminine.)

Verb vs. Adjective Confusion

The most common mistake is using the adjective 'perdedor'/'perdedores' when you mean the ongoing action of losing. Remember, 'perdiendo' (the gerund) describes the action happening *now*, while 'perdedor'/'perdedores' describes a characteristic or state of having lost.

Related Translations

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