потерянный
potérjannyj[pɐˈtʲerʲɪn(ː)ɨj]
The Russian word for lost is потерянный (potérjannyj).
потерянный is an adjective used to describe someone who is unable to find their way, or an object that has been misplaced.
Meaning: unable to find one's way (adj)
Which one should you use?
While потерянный is an adjective describing a state or an object, the verb потеряться is used to describe the action of getting lost.
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective must agree in gender and number with the noun it modifies. Use потерянная for feminine nouns, потерянное for neuter nouns and потерянные for plural nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
potérjannyj
Did you know?
- To describe a 'lost cause' in Russian, one would avoid потерянный entirely, as it makes the cause sound like a misplaced physical object.
- Using the reflexive form потеряться for inanimate objects like a phone adds a sense of unexpected disappearance to the sentence.
- Be careful using потерянный to describe a person's soul or spirit in a poetic context, as it can carry a heavy connotation of being 'forsaken' or 'abandoned' by fate.
Examples in context
- У Вас потерянный вид.You look lost.This sentence uses потерянный to describe a person's appearance.Tatoeba #11259995 by marafon, translation #2255039 by CK
- Я нашёл потерянный карандаш.I found the pencil I lost.This sentence uses потерянный to describe a pencil that was lost.Tatoeba #3989016 by marafon, translation #3822933 by CK
- Мальчик искал потерянный ключ.The boy was searching for the lost key.This sentence uses потерянный to describe a key.Tatoeba #652719 by shanghainese, translation #46284 by CM
- Чувак, я заблудился по дороге к тебе. Можешь мне помочь?Dude, I got lost on the way to your place. Can you guide me?
- Я запутался и оказался в неправильной части города.I got confused and ended up in the wrong part of town.
- 5 more sentences on Tatoeba
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry потерянный, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
