01
verlieren
to lose
To no longer have something because you no longer know where it is; to misplace something.
example
Ich glaube, ich habe meinen Regenschirm im Zug verloren.
I think I lost my umbrella on the train.
verlieren
to lose
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Inseparable verb
'Verlieren' (to lose) is an inseparable verb. The prefix 'ver-' remains firmly attached to the verb stem in all tenses and sentence constructions. This prefix often suggests a loss or a negative result.
EXAMPLE
Ich hoffe, dass ich meinen Job nicht verliere.
I hope I don't lose my job.
Perfect tense with 'haben'
The perfect tense of 'verlieren' (to lose) is always formed with the auxiliary verb 'haben' (to have), even when it describes a change or a loss. So it is always 'ich habe verloren' (I have lost / I lost).
EXAMPLE
Er hat gestern seine Brieftasche verloren.
He lost his wallet yesterday.
Word family
The corresponding noun for the verb 'verlieren' (to lose) is 'der Verlust' (loss). When you lose something, you suffer a loss.
EXAMPLE
Der Verlust seines Arbeitsplatzes war ein schwerer Schlag für ihn.
The loss of his job was a heavy blow for him.
Typical collocations
When 'verlieren' (to lose) describes the loss of an abstract quality, it is often combined with certain nouns. Common phrases are: 'die Geduld verlieren' (to lose patience), 'die Hoffnung verlieren' (to lose hope), 'den Mut verlieren' (to lose courage), or 'das Interesse verlieren' (to lose interest).
EXAMPLE
Nach einer Stunde Wartezeit verlor er die Geduld.
After waiting for an hour, he lost patience.
Reflexive verb
The form 'sich verlieren' (to get lost) is reflexive and means that one loses one's orientation or gets lost. The reflexive pronoun (sich, mich, dich, etc.) is necessary here.
EXAMPLE
Ohne Karte hätten wir uns im Gebirge sicher verloren.
Without a map, we would surely have gotten lost in the mountains.
Use with 'an'
When something decreases in quantity, value, or intensity, 'verlieren' (to lose) is often used with the preposition 'an' and a dative object. Examples are 'an Gewicht verlieren' (to lose weight) or 'an Bedeutung verlieren' (to lose importance).
EXAMPLE
Seit der Krise hat die Währung stark an Wert verloren.
Since the crisis, the currency has lost a lot of value.
Fixed construction
The phrase 'sich in etwas verlieren' (to lose oneself in something) means to focus so intensely on something that you forget everything around you. The preposition 'in' requires the accusative here.
EXAMPLE
Sie kann sich stundenlang in einem guten Buch verlieren.
She can lose herself in a good book for hours.
Compare with
verlieren vs finden
to find
'finden' and 'verlieren' are often opposites when talking about things. You use 'verlieren' when you no longer have something and do not know where it is. You use 'finden' when you discover that thing again or see it by chance. The words can be confused because both often occur with the same objects, for example keys, a phone, or a bag. The difference is the direction: with 'verlieren', something is gone; with 'finden', it is there again.
verlieren
Ihr verliert im Büro ständig eure Stifte.
You are constantly losing your pens at the office.
finden
Bitte finde dein Heft, bevor der Unterricht beginnt.
Please find your notebook before class begins.
In real life
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