Esta página en tu idioma

English

فارسی

العربية

Deutsch

Français

日本語

한국어

Português

中文

हिन्दी

A1 verb #1,500 más común 10 min de lectura

perder

Top 1,500

Practícalo Ejemplos Notas y consejos perder en 30 segundos

Explicación perder in your Level:

At the A1 level, 'perder' is primarily used for concrete, everyday situations. You will learn it to talk about losing physical objects like 'chaves' (keys), 'dinheiro' (money), or 'telemóvel' (mobile phone). It is also essential for travel, specifically 'perder o autocarro' (missing the bus) or 'perder o comboio' (missing the train). At this stage, focus on the present tense 'eu perco' and the simple past 'eu perdi'. The goal is to communicate basic needs and occurrences. You might also use it in simple games to say 'eu perdi' (I lost). It's a high-utility verb that helps you describe common mishaps in a new language. Don't worry about complex idioms yet; just focus on the 'lose' and 'miss' aspects of daily life. For example, if you are late for a meeting, you might say 'Perdi o metro'. If you can't find your wallet, 'Perdi a minha carteira'. These simple sentences are the building blocks of your Portuguese vocabulary.

At the A2 level, you begin to use 'perder' in slightly more complex ways, including the reflexive form 'perder-se' (to get lost). This is very useful when asking for directions or describing a trip. You will also start to see 'perder' used with abstract nouns like 'tempo' (time) or 'paciência' (patience). You'll learn to say 'Não percas tempo' (Don't waste time). The conjugation in the past becomes more natural, and you might start using the Imperfeito ('perdia') to describe habits. You also begin to understand 'perder' in the context of sports and competitions more clearly. At this level, you should be able to explain *why* you lost something or *how* you got lost. For instance, 'Perdi-me porque não tinha mapa'. This level bridges the gap between simple physical loss and more conceptual uses of the verb in social and travel contexts.

Regístrate gratis para leer la explicación completa

By B1, you are expected to use 'perder' fluently in a variety of contexts, including professional and social settings. You will use it to discuss missing opportunities ('perder uma oportunidade') or losing touch with someone ('perder o contacto'). You also start to encounter common idiomatic expressions like 'perder a cabeça' (to lose one's temper) or 'perder o fio à meada' (to lose the thread of a conversation). Your understanding of the nuances between 'perder' and similar verbs like 'faltar' or 'falhar' should improve. You can use 'perder' in the conditional and subjunctive moods, allowing for more hypothetical and polite speech. For example, 'Se eu perdesse o emprego, ficaria preocupado'. This level requires a deeper grasp of how 'perder' functions in the flow of a more complex narrative, moving beyond simple statements into more nuanced explanations of cause and effect.

Regístrate gratis para leer la explicación completa

At the B2 level, 'perder' is used with precision and stylistic variety. You will understand its use in business contexts, such as 'perder mercado' (losing market share) or 'perder competitividade' (losing competitiveness). You are comfortable with the passive voice and impersonal structures involving 'perder'. You can also use it in more sophisticated idioms like 'perder as estribeiras' (to lose one's cool) or 'não perder por esperar' (a way of saying someone will get what's coming to them). Your ability to distinguish between 'perder' and 'desperdiçar' becomes more refined, using the latter for specific instances of waste. You can also discuss health and biological processes, such as 'perder sangue' or 'perder a consciência'. At this stage, 'perder' is no longer just a vocabulary word but a versatile tool for expressing complex ideas about loss, failure, and the passage of time in both formal and informal registers.

Regístrate gratis para leer la explicación completa

At the C1 level, you have a near-native grasp of 'perder' and its myriad applications. You can appreciate the word's use in literature and high-level journalism, where it might describe abstract societal losses, such as 'perder a identidade cultural' (losing cultural identity) or 'perder a soberania' (losing sovereignty). You are familiar with rare or regional idiomatic uses and can use the verb to convey subtle emotional tones. You understand the historical and etymological roots of the word, which can help in interpreting classical Portuguese texts. Your use of 'perder' in the subjunctive is flawless, and you can use it in complex sentence structures without hesitation. You might use it to discuss philosophical concepts, like 'perder-se no tempo' or 'perder a noção da realidade'. At this level, the verb is integrated into your speech with all its cultural and metaphorical weight, allowing for deep and meaningful communication.

Regístrate gratis para leer la explicación completa

At the C2 level, your mastery of 'perder' is absolute. You can use it with the same flexibility and nuance as a highly educated native speaker. This includes using it in wordplay, irony, and sophisticated metaphors. You are aware of the most obscure idioms and can use 'perder' to express the finest shades of meaning in academic, legal, or poetic contexts. You might use it to describe the 'perda' (loss) of subtle rights or the 'perda' of a specific linguistic nuance. You can navigate the differences between European and Brazilian usage with ease, choosing the appropriate reflexive placement and vocabulary (like 'sumir' vs 'perder') depending on your audience. Your command of the verb allows you to discuss the most complex human experiences—grief, failure, and the ephemeral nature of existence—using 'perder' as a central theme. At this stage, the verb is a completely transparent tool in your linguistic arsenal.

Regístrate gratis para leer la explicación completa

Practícalo Ejemplos Notas y consejos

perder en 30 segundos

Perder is the primary Portuguese verb for 'to lose' (objects, games) and 'to miss' (transport, opportunities).
It is irregular in the present tense (eu perco) but mostly regular in other tenses like the past.
The reflexive form 'perder-se' means 'to get lost' and is essential for travel and directions.
Common idioms include 'perder a cabeça' (lose temper) and 'perder tempo' (waste time).

The Portuguese verb perder is a fundamental pillar of the language, primarily translating to 'to lose' or 'to miss' in English. At its core, it signifies the cessation of possession, whether that possession is physical, temporal, or abstract. In a physical sense, it describes the act of misplacing an object, such as your keys or wallet. In a temporal sense, it is the standard verb used for missing transportation or an opportunity. In a competitive context, it is the direct antonym of ganhar (to win). Understanding 'perder' requires recognizing its versatility across various domains of human experience, from the mundane act of losing an umbrella to the profound experience of losing a loved one or one's own mind.

Physical Loss: The most common usage involves objects that are no longer in one's possession due to negligence or accident.

Eu sempre costumo perder as minhas chaves de casa.

Beyond physical objects, 'perder' extends into the realm of time. When you 'perder tempo', you are wasting it. When you 'perder o comboio', you have missed the train. This distinction is crucial for English speakers who might be tempted to use different verbs for 'lose' and 'miss'. In Portuguese, 'perder' covers both. Furthermore, the verb takes on a reflexive form, perder-se, which means 'to get lost'. This is used when a person loses their way in a city or when someone becomes deeply engrossed in a book or a thought.

Abstract Loss: Used for losing hope (perder a esperança), losing patience (perder a paciência), or losing weight (perder peso).

Não podemos perder a esperança em dias melhores.

In competitive settings, 'perder' is used for games, sports, and legal battles. If a team loses a match, they 'perderam o jogo'. If a lawyer loses a case, they 'perderam a causa'. This usage is very similar to English. However, in Portuguese, the emotional weight of 'perder' can be intensified by context, such as 'perder a cabeça' (to lose one's head/temper) or 'perder o juízo' (to lose one's mind/senses). These idiomatic expressions are vital for reaching a higher level of fluency.

Reflexive Usage: The form 'perder-se' indicates the subject itself is lost, either geographically or metaphorically.

Eles perderam-se no centro da cidade antiga.

Eu não quero perder esta oportunidade única.

O meu avô começou a perder a audição com a idade.

Using perder correctly involves mastering its conjugation and understanding its various semantic roles. As a second-conjugation verb (-er), it follows a relatively standard pattern, but with a notable irregularity in the first-person singular of the present indicative: eu perco (not 'perdo'). This change from 'd' to 'c' is a common phonetic shift in Portuguese to maintain the hard 'k' sound. When using 'perder' to mean 'to miss' (like a bus), it is followed directly by the noun: 'perder o autocarro'. Unlike English, you don't 'miss' a person with 'perder'; for that, you use the verb sentir saudades de or sentir falta de.

Conjugation Note: The present tense 'eu perco' is the most frequent irregularity learners encounter.

Se eu não sair agora, perco o comboio das nove.

In the past tense (Pretérito Perfeito), it is regular: eu perdi, tu perdeste, ele perdeu. This is used for completed actions of losing. For example, 'Perdi o meu telemóvel ontem' (I lost my phone yesterday). When discussing habits of losing things, use the Pretérito Imperfeito: 'Eu perdia sempre os meus brinquedos quando era criança' (I used to always lose my toys when I was a child). The distinction between these two past tenses is vital for narrative flow in Portuguese.

Direct Objects: 'Perder' is a transitive verb, meaning it usually requires a direct object (what was lost).

Ela perdeu a paciência com o barulho constante.

Another important usage is the passive or impersonal 'perder-se'. In European Portuguese, you might see 'perdeu-se uma oportunidade', whereas in Brazil, 'uma oportunidade se perdeu' is more common. This reflexive/passive structure is used when the focus is on the object being lost rather than the person who lost it. Additionally, 'perder' can be used in the sense of 'to waste' when paired with 'tempo' or 'dinheiro'. 'Não percas o teu tempo com isso' (Don't waste your time with that) is a very common command.

Wasting Resources: 'Perder' is the go-to verb for wasting time, money, or energy.

É um erro perder dinheiro em investimentos arriscados.

Não percas a coragem agora!

Nós perdemos o início do filme por causa do trânsito.

You will encounter perder in almost every facet of Portuguese daily life. In the morning, you might hear someone complaining about 'perder o autocarro' (missing the bus). At the office, a colleague might mention 'perder um prazo' (missing a deadline). In the news, sports commentators frequently use it to describe a team's defeat: 'O Benfica perdeu contra o Porto'. It is a high-frequency verb that appears in casual conversations, formal news reports, and literary texts alike.

Daily Commute: Commonly heard at train stations and bus stops regarding delays and missed connections.

Atenção: o comboio das 10h foi cancelado, não o perca.

In social settings, 'perder' is often used in the context of stories. Someone might recount how they 'perderam-se' in a foreign city, leading to an adventure. In Portuguese music, particularly Fado, 'perder' is a recurring theme, often associated with 'perder um amor' (losing a love) or 'perder a esperança' (losing hope). The emotional resonance of the word is deep, reflecting the melancholic nature of saudade, where the focus is on what has been lost or is absent.

Sports & Games: Used universally for any competitive defeat, from board games to the World Cup.

Eles jogaram bem, mas acabaram por perder por um golo.

In a professional environment, 'perder' is used to discuss resources. 'Perder clientes' (losing clients) or 'perder mercado' (losing market share) are common business concerns. You will also hear it in health contexts, where doctors might advise patients to 'perder peso' (lose weight) or warn about 'perder sangue' (losing blood). The word's ubiquity makes it one of the first verbs a learner should master to navigate Portuguese-speaking societies effectively.

Business Context: Refers to the loss of revenue, clients, or competitive advantage.

A empresa não pode perder mais tempo com burocracia.

Cuidado para não perder o fio à meada durante a explicação.

Não quero perder o meu lugar na fila.

One of the most frequent mistakes for English speakers is using perder to mean 'to miss a person'. In English, you say 'I miss you', but in Portuguese, you cannot say 'Eu perco-te' to mean you feel someone's absence. Instead, you must use the expression ter saudades de or sentir falta de. Using 'perder' in this context would imply that you literally lost the person, perhaps in a crowd or through death, which can lead to significant misunderstandings.

Miss vs. Lose: English uses 'miss' for people and transport. Portuguese uses 'perder' for transport but 'saudades' for people.

Errado: Eu perdi o meu amigo (unless he is literally missing). Correto: Sinto falta do meu amigo.

Another common error is the conjugation of the first-person singular in the present tense. Many learners say 'eu perdo' instead of the correct eu perco. This is a classic 'over-regularization' error where learners apply the standard '-er' ending to the root 'perd-'. Remembering the 'c' in 'perco' is essential for sounding natural. Similarly, confusing 'perder' with 'falhar' (to fail) or 'errar' (to make a mistake) is common. While 'perder' can mean missing a target in some contexts, 'falhar' is usually more appropriate for technical failures.

Perder vs. Errar: 'Errar' is to make a mistake (e.g., an answer). 'Perder' is to lose possession or an opportunity.

Não percas a questão (Don't miss the question) vs. Não erres a questão (Don't get it wrong).

Learners also struggle with the reflexive form 'perder-se'. In English, we say 'I am lost', using the verb 'to be'. In Portuguese, you use the reflexive verb: 'Eu estou perdido' (state) or 'Eu perdi-me' (action). Using 'Eu perdi' without the reflexive pronoun when you mean you are lost will sound like you lost an object but didn't say what it was. Always include the 'se', 'me', or 'nos' when the subject is the one who is lost.

Reflexive Pronouns: Forgetting the reflexive pronoun 'se' when someone is lost is a very frequent mistake.

Nós perdemo-nos na floresta ontem à noite.

Ele perdeu o juízo completamente com aquela notícia.

Nunca percas a tua essência por ninguém.

While perder is the most general term for losing, several other verbs offer more specific nuances. Extraviar is often used in official or formal contexts, such as 'extraviar uma mala' (misplacing a suitcase during travel). Sumi (mostly Brazilian) or desaparecer are used when something simply vanishes. Desperdiçar is a more precise synonym for 'perder tempo' or 'perder dinheiro', specifically meaning 'to waste' or 'to squander' resources that could have been used better.

Perder vs. Desperdiçar: 'Perder' is general loss; 'Desperdiçar' implies a lack of efficiency or poor judgment.

Não deves desperdiçar comida enquanto outros têm fome.

In the context of missing an event or a transport, faltar is sometimes confused with 'perder'. However, 'faltar' means to be absent or to miss a scheduled commitment (like a class or a meeting), whereas 'perder' means you tried to go but didn't make it in time. For example, 'Faltei à aula' means I chose not to go or couldn't go, while 'Perdi a aula' might mean I arrived late and it was over. Another similar verb is derrotar, which is the active form of losing: 'to defeat'. If you 'perder', someone else 'derrotou' you.

Perder vs. Faltar: 'Perder' is accidental or temporal; 'Faltar' is absence from a commitment.

Ele faltou ao trabalho porque estava doente.

Finally, fracassar and falhar are related to 'perder' in the sense of not succeeding. 'Fracassar' is much stronger, often used for the total failure of a project or a life goal. 'Falhar' is more common for small errors or mechanical breakdowns. While you might 'perder um jogo', you 'falha um golo' (miss a goal opportunity). Understanding these distinctions helps in choosing the word that carries the exact weight of the situation you are describing.

Perder vs. Falhar: 'Perder' is the result (loss); 'Falhar' is the action of missing the mark.

O motor do carro falhou no meio da autoestrada.

Não podemos fracassar nesta missão tão importante.

A mala foi extraviada durante a escala em Paris.

How Formal Is It?

Nivel de dificultad

Gramática que debes saber

Reflexive pronoun placement

Pretérito Perfeito vs Imperfeito

Subjunctive mood for desires/doubts

Direct object pronouns

Negative commands

Regístrate gratis para leer la explicación completa

Ejemplos por nivel

Eu perdi as minhas chaves.

I lost my keys.

Simple past (Pretérito Perfeito) of 'perder'.

Tu perdes o autocarro todos os dias.

You miss the bus every day.

Present tense, 2nd person singular.

Nós perdemos o jogo de futebol.

We lost the football match.

Pretérito Perfeito, 1st person plural.

Ela perde o telemóvel muitas vezes.

She loses her phone many times.

Present tense, 3rd person singular.

Eles perderam o comboio das oito.

They missed the eight o'clock train.

Pretérito Perfeito, 3rd person plural.

Eu perco sempre o meu guarda-chuva.

I always lose my umbrella.

Irregular present tense 'perco'.

Você perdeu o seu chapéu?

Did you lose your hat?

Interrogative in the past tense.

Não quero perder o meu dinheiro.

I don't want to lose my money.

Infinitive after 'querer'.

Eu perdi-me no centro da cidade.

I got lost in the city center.

Reflexive form 'perder-se'.

Não percas tempo com jogos de vídeo.

Don't waste time with video games.

Negative imperative (tu).

Ela está a perder peso com a dieta.

She is losing weight with the diet.

Present continuous (estar + a + infinitive).

Nós perdemo-nos durante a caminhada.

We got lost during the hike.

Reflexive plural form.

Eles perderam a paciência com o atraso.

They lost patience with the delay.

Abstract noun 'paciência'.

Eu perdi a minha mala no aeroporto.

I lost my suitcase at the airport.

Concrete noun in travel context.

Tu perdeste uma boa oportunidade.

You missed a good opportunity.

Abstract noun 'oportunidade'.

O meu avô está a perder a memória.

My grandfather is losing his memory.

Health-related abstract loss.

Se eu perder o emprego, o que farei?

If I lose my job, what will I do?

Future Subjunctive 'perder'.

Ela perdeu a cabeça e gritou com ele.

She lost her head and shouted at him.

Idiom 'perder a cabeça'.

Espero que não percas o fio à meada.

I hope you don't lose the thread of the conversation.

Present Subjunctive after 'esperar que'.

Nós perdemos o contacto com os vizinhos.

We lost contact with the neighbors.

Social context of loss.

O Benfica perdeu por dois a zero.

Benfica lost by two to zero.

Sports context.

Não percas a esperança, tudo vai melhorar.

Don't lose hope, everything will get better.

Imperative with abstract noun.

Ele perdeu o juízo quando comprou aquele carro.

He lost his mind when he bought that car.

Idiom 'perder o juízo'.

Perdemos muito tempo na fila do banco.

We wasted a lot of time in the bank queue.

Usage meaning 'to waste'.

A empresa está a perder mercado para a concorrência.

The company is losing market share to the competition.

Business context.

Ele perdeu as estribeiras durante a reunião.

He lost his cool during the meeting.

Idiom 'perder as estribeiras'.

Não percas por esperar, a vingança é doce.

Just you wait, revenge is sweet.

Idiomatic threat/warning.

A vítima perdeu muito sangue no acidente.

The victim lost a lot of blood in the accident.

Medical context.

Perdeu-se uma excelente chance de negócio.

An excellent business chance was lost.

Passive 'se' structure.

Ela perdeu a noção do tempo enquanto lia.

She lost track of time while reading.

Abstract idiom 'perder a noção'.

O país está a perder a sua identidade cultural.

The country is losing its cultural identity.

Societal context.

Se tivesses tido cuidado, não terias perdido o anel.

If you had been careful, you wouldn't have lost the ring.

Conditional perfect.

A narrativa perde-se em detalhes irrelevantes.

The narrative gets lost in irrelevant details.

Literary criticism context.

É imperativo não perder a soberania nacional.

It is imperative not to lose national sovereignty.

Political/Formal context.

Ele perdeu-se em conjeturas sem fundamento.

He got lost in groundless conjectures.

Intellectual/Abstract context.

A obra perde muito da sua força na tradução.

The work loses much of its strength in translation.

Artistic/Linguistic context.

Não podemos perder de vista o objetivo principal.

We cannot lose sight of the main objective.

Idiom 'perder de vista'.

A cidade perdeu o seu encanto original.

The city lost its original charm.

Aesthetic loss.

Ele parece ter perdido a bússola moral.

He seems to have lost his moral compass.

Metaphorical usage.

A medida fez o governo perder popularidade.

The measure made the government lose popularity.

Political impact.

A alma perde-se nos meandros da existência.

The soul gets lost in the intricacies of existence.

Philosophical/Poetic register.

O réu perdeu a causa por um vício de forma.

The defendant lost the case due to a formal defect.

Legal terminology.

A língua vai perdendo as suas declinações.

The language is gradually losing its declensions.

Linguistic evolution context.

Perder-se por amor é uma forma de se encontrar.

To lose oneself for love is a way to find oneself.

Paradoxical/Literary usage.

A empresa perdeu o fôlego financeiro.

The company lost its financial breath (ran out of funds).

Economic metaphor.

Não se deve perder a estribeira perante a ignomínia.

One must not lose one's cool in the face of ignominy.

High-level formal register.

A tradição perdeu-se na noite dos tempos.

The tradition was lost in the mists of time.

Idiomatic expression for ancient loss.

Ele perdeu o norte após a tragédia.

He lost his way (direction) after the tragedy.

Idiom 'perder o norte'.

Colocaciones comunes

perder tempo

perder dinheiro

perder peso

perder o autocarro

perder o comboio

perder a paciência

perder a esperança

perder o juízo

perder a cabeça

perder o contacto

Frases Comunes

Perdi as chaves.

Não percas tempo.

Perdi o comboio.

Perdi-me no caminho.

Ele perdeu o emprego.

Eles perderam o jogo.

Estou a perder a paciência.

Não quero perder isto.

Perdeu-se a oportunidade.

Perdi o meu telemóvel.

Se confunde a menudo con

perder vs falhar

perder vs errar

perder vs faltar

Modismos y expresiones

"perder a cabeça"

"perder o juízo"

"perder as estribeiras"

"perder o fio à meada"

"perder o norte"

"não perder por esperar"

"perder de vista"

"perder o fôlego"

"perder a noção"

"perder o pio"

Fácil de confundir

perder vs falhar

perder vs errar

perder vs faltar

perder vs sumir

perder vs extraviar

Patrones de oraciones

Regístrate gratis para ver todos los ejemplos

Cómo usarlo

reflexive

Always use reflexive for people being lost.

transport

Always use 'perder' for missing a bus/train/plane.

Errores comunes

Eu perdo as chaves.
The present tense is irregular.
Eu perdi você (meaning I miss you).
Perder is not used for missing people.
Eu perdi no caminho.
Must be reflexive when a person is lost.
Eu falhei o autocarro.
Falhar is for failure, perder is for missing transport.
Eu perdi a resposta.
Errar is for making a mistake on an answer.

Consejos

The 'C' Rule

Remember that 'perder' changes to 'perco' in the present. This is to keep the sound consistent with the root.

Transport Tip

Always use 'perder' for missing your ride. It's the most natural way to express this in Portuguese.

Abstract Loss

Don't be afraid to use 'perder' for feelings like hope or patience. It's very common.

Getting Lost

Use 'perder-se' when you don't know where you are. It's a reflexive action in Portuguese.

Anger Expression

'Perder a cabeça' is a great idiom to describe someone getting very angry.

Lose vs. Miss

Portuguese doesn't distinguish between losing a key and missing a bus. Both are 'perder'.

Stress the End

The stress is on the last syllable: per-DER. This is true for all infinitive verbs.

Missing People

Avoid using 'perder' for people unless they are literally missing or deceased. Use 'saudades'.

Professional Loss

In meetings, use 'perder o prazo' for missing a deadline. It sounds professional.

Visual Association

Imagine a 'Periscope' (perco) looking for something you lost to remember the 'c'.

Memorízalo

Mnemotecnia

Think of 'perder' as 'permanent departure' of an object or opportunity.

Origen de la palabra

Contexto cultural

Uses 'se perder' and often uses 'perder' for missing events more casually.

Focuses on 'perder-se' in the context of history and navigation.

Practica en la vida real

Contextos reales

Inicios de conversación

"Já perdeste alguma coisa importante?"

"O que fazes quando perdes o autocarro?"

"Alguma vez te perdeste numa cidade estrangeira?"

"O teu clube costuma perder muitos jogos?"

"Como evitas perder tempo no trabalho?"

Temas para diario

Escreve sobre uma vez que te perdeste.

O que sentes quando perdes um objeto de valor?

Descreve um dia em que perdeste o comboio.

É melhor ganhar ou perder com dignidade?

Como a tecnologia nos ajuda a não perder coisas?

Preguntas frecuentes

10 preguntas

You should not use 'perder'. Instead, say 'Sinto a tua falta' or 'Tenho saudades tuas'. 'Perder' is for objects or transport.

No, it is only irregular in the first person singular of the present indicative (perco) and the present subjunctive (perca). Most other forms are regular.

Yes, 'perder peso' is the standard way to say 'to lose weight' in Portuguese.

'Perder' is a general term for loss. 'Desperdiçar' specifically means to waste something that could have been useful, like food or talent.

You say 'Estou perdido' (state) or 'Perdi-me' (action of getting lost). Remember the reflexive pronoun.

Yes, you can say 'perder o filme' if you arrived late or couldn't see it.

It means to lose one's temper or to act irrationally due to strong emotion.

Yes, for losing money (perder dinheiro), clients (perder clientes), or market share (perder mercado).

It is regular: eu perdi, tu perdeste, ele perdeu, nós perdemos, eles perderam.

Yes, it is the standard verb for losing any competition: 'Eles perderam o jogo'.

Regístrate gratis para ver consejos y notas