Verb
/eks.tɾi.βaˈɾ/
"Extraviar" is a transitive verb used in Spanish to indicate the action of losing something or misplacing it, often in a way that makes it difficult to recover. It can pertain to both tangible items and abstract concepts (e.g., losing focus or direction). The word is generally used in a more formal context or legal jargon, thus tends to appear in written form more frequently than in everyday conversation.
Se me ha extraviado la llave del coche.
"I have misplaced the car key."
No quiero extraviar las oportunidades que se me presentan.
"I don’t want to lose the opportunities that come my way."
While "extraviar" itself is not commonly found in many idiomatic expressions, it embodies the theme of loss and can be connected to various phrases or concepts that deal with misplacement or the act of losing.
No extravies el enfoque.
"Don't lose your focus."
Es fácil extraviar buenos momentos en la rutina diaria.
"It's easy to lose good moments in the daily routine."
Él suele extraviar su sentido de dirección durante los viajes.
"He often loses his sense of direction while traveling."
A veces, es bueno extraviar la noción del tiempo al relajarse.
"Sometimes, it's good to lose track of time while relaxing."
The term "extraviar" comes from the prefix "extra-" meaning "outside" and the verb "riavar" (related to "deviar" or "deviate"). Therefore, it etymologically conveys the idea of straying or going outside of the intended path.
Synonyms: - Perder (to lose) - Deslocar (to displace)
Antonyms: - Encontrar (to find) - Conservar (to preserve)