How do you say “Lose it” in Spanish?
The closest natural Spanish equivalent is perder los estribos, which literally means “to lose the stirrups”. English speakers use lose it to mean to suddenly lose control of your emotions, for example by shouting, crying or laughing. This is about anger. Crying and laughter need different translations. Register: informal. Usage frequency: common.
Closest natural Spanish
perder los estribos
/peɾˈðeɾ los esˈtɾiβos/
- Literal meaning
- “to lose the stirrups”
- Register
- informal
- How often it's used
- common
- Equivalence
Close equivalent
81 out of 100
What a native Spanish speaker would actually say
“Perder los estribos” fits someone who shouts or reacts furiously. It would change the meaning if the person simply burst into tears.
For laughter, “no poder parar de reír” is clearer. “Perder el control” covers more reactions, but can sound serious. Choose the words that match the emotion.
How close is the meaning?
- Meaning4 out of 5
- Tone5 out of 5
- Context4 out of 5
- Literal similarity1 out of 5
These ratings are editorial approximations, not measurements.
What are other ways to say it in Spanish?
perder el control
Literally: “to lose control”
Broader; the context must identify the emotion or behaviour.
romper a llorar
Literally: “to break into crying”
Use for a sudden tearful reaction.
In context
English
I lost it when he insulted my sister.
Spanish
Perdí los estribos cuando insultó a mi hermana.
English
She lost it when she read the letter and began to cry.
Spanish
Rompió a llorar al leer la carta.
Related expressions
- What “Lose it” means in English
- Fly off the handle, Suddenly lose your temper.
- Pull yourself together, To calm down and regain control of your feelings.
Last updated 2026-09-16