perderlo

Perderlo is an Italian non-finite form formed by the verb perdere with the direct object pronoun lo attached, meaning “to lose it” or “to lose him” depending on context. It functions as the infinitive in clauses where the action of losing is described in an undeclined form or as part of a larger verbal structure. For example: “Non voglio perderlo” can mean “I don’t want to lose it” or “I don’t want to lose him,” depending on what lo refers to.

Grammar and variation: Lo is the masculine singular direct object pronoun. The corresponding forms for other genders and numbers are perderla (feminine singular), perderli (masculine plural), and perderle (feminine plural). In compound tenses formed with avere, the past participle can agree with a preceding direct object pronoun, so forms may vary accordingly in spoken and written Italian.

Usage notes: Perderlo is common in everyday Italian and appears in various contexts, from losing a physical object to losing a person or a chance, depending on context. Idiomatic expressions include perderlo di vista, meaning “to lose sight of him/it,” and altre constructions that reuse perderlo with different objects.

Origin and scope: Perderlo derives from perdere, which comes from Latin perdere, with lo functioning as a clitic object pronoun. It is not a separate lexical item but a grammatically bound form used across tenses by attaching the appropriate pronoun to perder.