How to Say “Mistake” in Spanish

Ways to say it

The term error is a universal and common way to say mistake in Spanish. While in English you 'make' a mistake, in Spanish you 'commit' a mistake, using the phrase cometer un error. Related verbs include equivocarse, which means to be mistaken or to make a mistake and confundir con or equivocar por, which mean to take one thing for another.

Which one should you use?

The different forms of the word depend on the specific type of mistake. Error is often used for technical or formal mistakes. In contrast, equivocación is more commonly used for personal mistakes or errors in judgment. Fallo often refers to a mistake in the sense of a technical failure, a flaw in a system or a judicial ruling. Desacierto is another masculine form for mistake. Trabacuenta is a feminine form.

Is it said differently in some regions?

In Mexico, the word fallo might be substituted with metida de pata or pifia.

Related words

''(obsolete in English)'' to commit an unintentional error, to do or think something wrong (verb): equivocarse.

To take one thing for another (verb): confundir con, equivocar por.

How does it change in a sentence?

The verb equivocarse is reflexive. This means that instead of using a direct object, you would say me equivoqué to express that you made a mistake or were wrong.

How do you pronounce it?

/eˈroɾ/

What mistakes should you avoid?

English speakers often mistakenly use the verb hacer (to make) with error. Instead, you should use cometer (to commit) or the reflexive verb equivocarse.