Spanish Phrases for Lost and Found Situations


When traveling in a Spanish-speaking country, losing a personal item can feel stressful. Knowing the right phrases helps you report the situation quickly and clearly so you can recover what’s missing. Below are practical, traveler-friendly expressions organized by scenario.

Asking for Help

  • Perdí mi… – I lost my…

  • ¿Puede ayudarme? – Can you help me?

  • Estoy buscando mi… – I’m looking for my…

  • No sé dónde lo dejé. – I don’t know where I left it.

  • ¿Hay una oficina de objetos perdidos? – Is there a lost-and-found office?

Describing the Lost Item

  • Es de color… – It’s the color…

  • Tiene mi nombre / pasaporte / identificación. – It has my name / passport / ID.

  • Es pequeño / mediano / grande. – It’s small / medium / large.

  • Es muy importante. – It’s very important.

  • Es una bolsa / cartera / mochila / teléfono. – It’s a bag / wallet / backpack / phone.

Places Where Items Might Be Lost

  • Creo que lo perdí en el autobús. – I think I lost it on the bus.

  • Puede estar en el hotel. – It might be at the hotel.

  • Lo dejé en un restaurante. – I left it at a restaurant.

  • Tal vez quedó en un taxi. – Maybe it stayed in a taxi.

  • No lo encuentro en mi habitación. – I can’t find it in my room.

At a Lost-and-Found Desk

  • Vengo a preguntar por un objeto perdido. – I’m here to ask about a lost item.

  • ¿Alguien entregó esto? – Has anyone turned this in?

  • ¿Puede revisar, por favor? – Can you check, please?

  • ¿Cuándo puedo volver para preguntar otra vez? – When can I come back to ask again?

  • Aquí está mi identificación. – Here is my ID.

If Someone Finds Your Item

  • ¡Gracias por encontrarlo! – Thank you for finding it!

  • Estoy muy agradecido/a. – I’m very grateful.

  • Sí, es mío. – Yes, it’s mine.

  • ¿Dónde lo encontró? – Where did you find it?

  • Déjeme verificar que todo está aquí. – Let me check that everything is here.

If You Find Someone Else’s Item

  • Creo que alguien perdió esto. – I think someone lost this.

  • Lo encontré en… – I found it in…

  • Quiero entregarlo a objetos perdidos. – I want to turn it in to lost-and-found.

  • ¿Puede recibirlo? – Can you take this?

  • No sé de quién es. – I don’t know whose it is.

Useful Emergency Expressions

  • Perdí mi pasaporte. – I lost my passport.

  • Necesito hablar con la policía. – I need to speak with the police.

  • Necesito un reporte oficial. – I need an official report.

  • ¿Dónde está la embajada/consulado? – Where is the embassy/consulate?

Quick Reference List

  • Lost = Perdido/a

  • Wallet = Cartera

  • Phone = Teléfono

  • Bag = Bolsa/Mochila

  • Keys = Llaves

  • Passport = Pasaporte


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