perso
/ˈpɛr.so/
The Italian word for lost (adj) is perso.
perso is used to describe someone who is unable to find their way. If you are describing the sensation of being disoriented or confused while lost, you can also use confuso/a. To express the action of getting lost, rather than just the state of being lost, use the reflexive verb perdersi.
Meaning: unable to find one's way (adj)
Which one should you use?
There is a distinction in how the word is used based on the auxiliary verb: when describing a person's state of being lost, perso is used with the auxiliary verb essere (to be), whereas when you lose an object, the verb perdere uses the auxiliary avere (to have).
How does it change in a sentence?
As an adjective, the form must agree in gender and number with the subject. Use persa for a feminine subject, persi for a masculine plural subject and perse for a feminine plural subject.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈpɛr.so/. The word has 2 syllables and the stress is on the 1st syllable.
Did you know?
- The reflexive verb perdersi is often used colloquially to tell someone to 'get lost' or go away, though it is more polite than some English equivalents.
- The expression essere perso can be used to describe someone who is completely infatuated or 'lost' in love with another person.
- In a sports context, perso is the past participle of the verb meaning 'to lose' a game or match, rather than losing one's way.
Examples in context
- Tom si è perso?Is Tom lost?This sentence uses perso to ask if someone is lost.Tatoeba #3838164 by Guybrush88, translation #2244619 by CK
- Ne ho perso uno.I lost one.This sentence uses perso to indicate that an object was lost.Tatoeba #5337827 by Guybrush88, translation #2873239 by Amastan
- Non mi ero perso.I wasn't lost.This sentence uses perso to state that the speaker was not lost.Tatoeba #3546833 by Guybrush88, translation #2247550 by CK
- Mi sono smarrito nella cittàI got lost in the city
- Mi sono perso/a per stradaI got lost on the street
- Mi sono smarrito/a nel centro storicoI got lost in the historic center
- Mi sono perduto/a tra le strade di questa cittàI got lost in the streets of this city
- Mi sono perso/a. Può aiutarmi?I got lost. Can you help me?
- Mi scuso, mi sono smarrito/aI'm sorry, I got lost
- Può indicarmi la strada? Mi sono smarrito/aCan you show me the way? I got lost
- 1774 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lorenzo and Martina are walking in a new city.
- LorenzoCredo di essermi perso.I think I am lost.
- MartinaNon ti preoccupare, Lorenzo.Don't worry, Lorenzo.
- LorenzoMa dove siamo finiti?But where did we end up?
- MartinaGuarda, la mappa dice che siamo vicino.Look, the map says we are close.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “lost” translations and entries perso, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
