How do you say 'lost' in Spanish?

The word is perdido (masculine) or perdida (feminine) — it comes from the verb perder (to lose) and works for both physical disorientation and misplaced objects.

How do you say 'I am lost' in Spanish?

The phrase is estoy perdido (if male) or estoy perdida (if female) — use estar rather than ser because being lost is a temporary state, not a permanent characteristic.

What does 'dar por perdido' mean?

The expression dar por perdido means to give up on something or consider it a lost cause — for example, dieron el partido por perdido means they gave the game up as lost.

Spanish vocabulary · Beginner

Lost in Spanish: Perdido

Written by Sofia Ramirez, Lead Spanish Curriculum Editor · Reviewed May 2026

Perdido · adjective · pehr-DEE-doh

Perdido is the Spanish word for lost, used when someone cannot find their way or when an object has gone missing.

pehr-DEE-doh

Estoy perdido, ¿me puede ayudar?

I'm lost, can you help me?

Lost in Spanish: Quick Reference

Below are the most common Spanish words for lost, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.

Spanish	English	Pronunciation	Region / Register
perdido	lost	pehr-DEE-doh	Default, widely understood
perdida	lost		feminine form
extraviado	lost		formal, for lost items or persons

How Native Speakers Use Perdido

Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.

Asking for directions

Disculpe, estoy perdido. ¿Dónde está la estación?

Excuse me, I'm lost. Where is the station?

Asking for help while traveling.

Missing item

Mi teléfono está perdido desde ayer.

My phone has been lost since yesterday.

Reporting a missing belonging.

Figurative use

Sin ti me siento perdido.

Without you I feel lost.

Expressing emotional dependence.

Avoid These Mistakes When Using Perdido

Not matching gender

Incorrect: Ella está perdido.

Correct: Ella está perdida.

Perdido must agree in gender — use perdida for feminine subjects and perdido for masculine subjects.

Using perder instead of perdido

Incorrect: Estoy perder en la ciudad.

Correct: Estoy perdido en la ciudad.

Perder is the infinitive verb (to lose), while perdido is the past participle used as an adjective meaning lost.

Lock in Lost Vocabulary with the Parrot Method

Why word lists alone don't stick

Memorizing a translation feels productive, but most learners forget 70% of what they studied within 48 hours. Vocabulary needs spaced repetition AND real-world exposure to transfer to long-term memory.

See Perdido used by native speakers

Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using perdido in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear Estoy perdido, ¿me puede ayudar? while watching someone live the moment, connecting meaning, sound, and rhythm at once.

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Common Questions About Lost in Spanish

How do you say 'lost' in Spanish?: The word is perdido (masculine) or perdida (feminine) — it comes from the verb perder (to lose) and works for both physical disorientation and misplaced objects.
How do you say 'I am lost' in Spanish?: The phrase is estoy perdido (if male) or estoy perdida (if female) — use estar rather than ser because being lost is a temporary state, not a permanent characteristic.
What does 'dar por perdido' mean?: The expression dar por perdido means to give up on something or consider it a lost cause — for example, dieron el partido por perdido means they gave the game up as lost.