General Sense of Loss:
* Une personne disparue: This literally translates to "a disappeared person" and can refer to someone who has died, gone missing, or is simply absent from your life.
* Un être cher: This means "a loved one" and is a more formal way to refer to someone you have lost.
* Un défunt: This means "a deceased person" and is a more formal way to refer to someone who has died.
Specific Types of Loss:
* Un enfant perdu: This means "a lost child" and refers specifically to a child who is missing.
* Un ami perdu: This means "a lost friend" and refers specifically to a friend who has died or is no longer in your life.
Figurative Sense of Loss:
* Une chance perdue: This means "a lost chance" and refers to an opportunity that was missed.
* Un rêve perdu: This means "a lost dream" and refers to a goal that was not achieved.
The best translation will depend on the specific situation and the nuance you want to express.