perdón, número equivocado
/peɾˈdon ˈnumeɾo ekiboˈkado/word by word
The English phrase "sorry wrong number" is translated into Spanish as perdón, número equivocado.
This phrase is used to apologize when you call the wrong telephone number.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of perdón (sorry/pardon), número (number) and equivocado (wrong/mistaken).
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For a more formal tone when speaking to a stranger, you can use disculpe, número equivocado or the longer phrases Discúlpeme, me equivoqué de número, Lamento haberme equivocado de número and Perdón por haberle llamado por error. In informal settings, you might say Disculpa, me equivoqué de número, Perdón, me equivoqué al marcar or Lo siento, llamé por error.
How do you pronounce it?
/peɾˈdon ˈnumeɾo ekiboˈkado/
Did you know?
- While perdón is used for 'sorry', the root of the word is linked to the Latin dōnō, meaning 'to give'. In a linguistic sense, asking for perdón is like asking for a gift of forgiveness.
- In Spanish, saying me equivoqué is a reflexive action, meaning you are effectively saying 'I mistaken myself'. This frames the wrong number not as a property of the phone line, but as a personal action taken by the caller.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, instead of just saying the phrase, it is common to follow up with a quick que tenga un buen día (have a good day) to soften the social friction of the mistake.
Examples in context
- ¡Buenos días! Discúlpeme, me equivoqué de número. Lamento mucho las molestias. ¡Que tenga un buen día!Good morning! Excuse me, I dialed the wrong number. I apologize for the inconvenience. Have a great day!
- Hola, perdón, me equivoqué de número, no era mi intención molestar. ¡Que tengas un buen día!Hi, sorry, I dialed the wrong number, it wasn't my intention to bother you. Have a great day!
- ¡Ah! Perdón, número equivocado, no es él.Ah! Sorry, wrong number, it's not him.
Example conversation
Alejandro calls a number thinking it belongs to a friend.
- Alejandro¿Hola, está Carlos?Hello, is Carlos there?
- ElenaNo, no hay ningún Carlos aquí.No, there is no Carlos here.
- AlejandroPerdón, número equivocado.Sorry, wrong number.
- ElenaNo se preocupe, no pasa nada.Don't worry, it's okay.
Sources
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (perdón, número, equivocado) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries equivocado, número, perdón, CC BY-SA 4.0.
