Perda

Perda is a feminine noun in Portuguese that denotes the act or result of losing something, or the thing that is lost. It is used for tangible losses, such as items or money, as well as intangible ones, like time, opportunities, or value.

The word derives from perder, the verb meaning to lose. It ultimately traces back to Latin perdere, related to ruin or destruction. In Portuguese, the noun is formed with the feminine article a: a perda.

In everyday language, perda de tempo or perda financeira describe waste or losses. In science and engineering, perda de energia or perda de calor denote dissipation or attenuation of energy. In medicine and health, perda de memória, perda auditiva, and perda de peso refer to various forms of loss. In law and administration, expressions such as perda de prazo or perda de objeto appear in procedural contexts, indicating missed deadlines or frustrated objectives.

Beyond these uses, perda appears in discussions of business, finance, and risk as the general term for any decrease in value, revenue, or quantity of goods. Related terms include perdido (lost) and perder de vista (to lose sight of) in figurative speech, as well as phrases like perda de controle to describe a loss of control.