One means to misplace or not win, the other means not tight.
Verb. To misplace something, to fail to win, or to no longer have something.
Don't lose your keys!
¡No pierdas tus llaves!
We might lose the game if we don't practice.
Podríamos perder el partido si no practicamos.
I always lose my phone charger.
Siempre pierdo el cargador de mi teléfono.
Adjective. Not tight, not fixed, or not confined. The opposite of 'tight'.
My jeans are too loose after losing weight.
Mis jeans están muy flojos después de bajar de peso.
There is a loose screw in the table.
Hay un tornillo suelto en la mesa.
She wore a loose T-shirt to the gym.
Ella usó una camiseta holgada para el gimnasio.
Common mistake
Writing 'loose' when you mean 'lose'. Wrong: "I don't want to loose my keys." (correct: lose)
Trick to remember it
'Lose' has one 'o' — it lost one! 'Loose' has two 'o's, which gives it extra room to be loose.
Quick rule
Need a verb (to not win, to misplace)? Use 'lose'. Need an adjective (not tight, not fixed)? Use 'loose'.
Did you know?
'Lose' is pronounced /luːz/ (rhymes with 'blues'). 'Loose' is pronounced /luːs/ (rhymes with 'goose'). Both share the /uː/ vowel sound but end differently — that is exactly where the confusion starts.
Exercise 1 · Pick the right one
I don't want to ____ my job.
Exercise 2 · Pick the right one
These shoes are too ____. I need a smaller size.
Exercise 3 · Form the word
Need a verb (to not win, to misplace)? Use 'lose'. Need an adjective (not tight, not fixed)? Use 'loose'.
Writing 'loose' when you mean 'lose'. Wrong: "I don't want to loose my keys." (correct: lose)
'Lose' has one 'o' — it lost one! 'Loose' has two 'o's, which gives it extra room to be loose.
Bryan López
Founder of SpeakUP Academy