perdente
/perˈdɛn.te/feminine, masculine
The English word "loser" is translated into Italian as perdente.
Perdente refers to a person who fails to win a game or competition. It can also describe someone who is consistently unsuccessful in life. To describe someone who accepts defeat gracefully, you can use the phrase buon perdente.
Meaning: person who fails to win (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word perdente is derived from the verb perdere (to lose) combined with the suffix -ente, which functions as an agent suffix similar to the English -er.
Which one should you use?
While perdente refers to someone who loses a game or contest, it is not typically used as a harsh social insult meaning a "worthless person" in the way the English word is. For that specific social insult, Italians often use the word fallito.
How does it change in a sentence?
Perdente is a noun that can be used in both masculine and feminine forms.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has three syllables, with the stress on the second syllable: /perˈdɛn.te/.
Did you know?
- The word perdente shares a Latin root with the English word 'perdition', referring to a state of eternal loss or ruin.
- In some regional dialects, people might use the word sfigato instead of perdente to describe a social loser, deriving it from sfiga, meaning 'bad luck'.
- While perdente refers to the result of a game, the word fallito comes from the verb fallire, meaning 'to fail' or 'to go bankrupt'.
Examples in context
- Chi è il perdente?Who's the loser?This sentence is useful for asking who the loser is.Tatoeba #5959651 by Guybrush88, translation #3738409 by CK
- È un buon perdente.He is a good loser.This sentence is used to describe someone who accepts defeat gracefully.Tatoeba #3468653 by Guybrush88, translation #301722 by CC
- È un tale perdente.He is such a loser.This sentence shows how to use the word to describe someone as a significant loser.Tatoeba #5718407 by Guybrush88, translation #5316889 by mailohilohi
- Sei un sfigato, hai perso tutte le partite!You're such a loser, you've lost all the matches!
- 62 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Alessandro and Chiara are playing a board game.
- AlessandroHo vinto di nuovo, Chiara!I won again, Chiara!
- ChiaraNon chiamarmi perdente, Alessandro.Don't call me a loser, Alessandro.
- AlessandroMa è la verità, sei un perdente.But it's the truth, you're a loser.
- ChiaraRifacciamo una partita subito!Let's play another game right now!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “loser” translations and entries perdente, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
