Ways to say it
| Polish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| przegrany | /pʂɛˈɡra.nɘ/ | masculine |
| przegrana | /pʂɛˈɡra.na/ | feminine |
The term przegrany describes a person who fails to win. It can be used literally to describe someone who lost a game or competition, or colloquially as an insult to describe someone perceived as a social failure.
What does it mean word for word?
The word is the past participle of the verb 'przegrać' (to lose), so it literally means 'the defeated one' or 'one who has lost'.
Which one should you use?
przegrany is the masculine form, while przegrana is the feminine form.
How does it change in a sentence?
In the plural, the form changes based on the group being described. Use przegrani for a group of men or a mixed-gender group (masculine personal). Use przegrane for groups of women, children or objects (non-masculine personal).
How do you pronounce it?
The word has 3 syllables, with the stress on the 2nd syllable. The IPA is /pʂɛˈɡra.nɘ/.
Did you know?
- The prefix prze- in przegrać often implies doing something too much or crossing a boundary, similar to how 'overdo' works in English.
- In Polish, the word grać can refer to playing a game, playing a musical instrument or acting a role in a theater.
- The word 'loser' in English is often used to describe someone who is 'bad at life', but in Polish, using przegrany can sound much more heavy and permanent, like a person who is truly defeated.
Examples in context
- Nikt nie lubi przegranych.No one likes the loser.This sentence demonstrates the use of the form przegrany in a plural context.Tatoeba #3643207 by Katubeltza, translation #3642957 by vvv123
- Przepraszam, ale muszę powiedzieć, że ta osoba jest nieudacznikiem.I'm sorry, but I have to say that this person is an unsuccessful individual.
- On to taki frajer, ciągle robi głupie rzeczy.He's such a sucker, always doing silly things.
- To był po prostu zwykły przegrany.He was just a plain loser.
- Nie bądź taki przegrany, spróbuj jeszcze raz.Don't be such a loser, try once more.
Example conversation
Anna and Krzysztof are discussing a board game result.
- AnnaKrzysztof, znowu przegrałeś!Krzysztof, you lost again!
- KrzysztofTak, czuję się jak totalny przegrany.Yes, I feel like a total loser.
- AnnaNie martw się, to była trudna partia.Don't worry, it was a tough round.
- KrzysztofNastępnym razem to ja wygram.Next time, I will win.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “loser” translations and entries przegrany, przegrana, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
