perdre

The French verb "perdre" means "to lose." It is used to express the action of no longer having something, misplacing it, or failing to win something.

Meanings of "perdre":

• Losing an object: J'ai perdu mes clés. (I lost my keys.)
• Losing a game or competition: Ils ont perdu le match. (They lost the match.)
• Losing time: Je ne veux pas perdre de temps. (I don't want to waste time.)
• Losing someone or something abstract (like trust or hope): Elle a perdu espoir. (She lost hope.)
• Sometimes used for miscarrying: Elle a perdu son enfant. (She had a miscarriage.)

Synonyms and differences:

• Égarer: Means to misplace or lose something temporarily; implies the object may be found again. More polite or formal for physical loss.
  • J'ai égaré mes papiers. (I have misplaced my papers.)
• Manquer: Means to miss something physically or figuratively (e.g., missing a train, missing a chance).
  • J'ai manqué le bus. (I missed the bus.)
• Perdre: Stronger general sense of loss, permanent or temporary, and includes losing in games or time.

Summary:

• "Perdre" is a general, common verb to say "to lose."
• Use "perdre" for losing things, games, time, or abstract concepts.
• Use "égarer" when talking about misplacing things.
• Use "manquer" when talking about missing an event, object, or opportunity.