equivocado
/ekiboˈkado/
In Spanish, the word for "wrong" is equivocado.
The term is used to describe a person who is asserting something incorrect. When expressing that someone is wrong, you should use the verb estar (to be) rather than ser.
Meaning: asserting something incorrect (adj)
Which one should you use?
While equivocado describes a person who has made an error, incorrecto is used to describe the error or the thing itself, such as an incorrect answer.
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective must agree in gender and number with the person who is wrong. Use equivocada for a female, equivocados for a group of men or a mixed group and equivocadas for a group of women.
How do you pronounce it?
/ekiboˈkado/
Did you know?
- The verb equivocar and the English word 'equivocate' share the same Latin root, meaning to mislead or wander from the truth.
- If you want to say 'you are wrong' to a person's face in a very soft, almost apologetic way, you might use the word equivocado accompanied by a diminutive.
- If you say soy equivocado instead of estoy equivocado, you are not just saying you made a mistake, but that being 'wrong' is a permanent part of your identity.
Examples in context
- Sé que estoy equivocado.I know I'm wrong.This sentence is useful for expressing personal error using equivocado.Tatoeba #9943298 by Seael, translation #3689447 by CK
- Vio que estaba equivocado.He saw he was wrong.This sentence is useful for describing a person who realized they were wrong using equivocado.Tatoeba #553350 by Shishir, translation #421698 by blay_paul
- Yo puedo estar equivocado.I might be wrong.This sentence is useful for expressing the possibility of being wrong using equivocado.Tatoeba #1289504 by marcelostockle, translation #256737 by CK
- Tu respuesta es incorrectaYour answer is wrong
- Creo que estás equivocado/aI think you're wrong
- Su cálculo es erróneoYour calculation is wrong
- Eso está malThat's wrong
- No te equivoques, eso está malDon't get it wrong, that's incorrect
- Esa información es falsaThat information is wrong
- No, eso está mal, deberías hacerlo así.No, that's wrong, you should do it this way.
- Crees que ganó el premio, pero estás equivocado.You think he won the prize, but you're mistaken.
- 223 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
María and Javier are discussing a date on the calendar.
- MaríaLa cita es el lunes, ¿verdad?The appointment is on Monday, right?
- JavierNo, María, estás equivocada.No, María, you are wrong.
- María¿En serio? Lo anoté aquí.Really? I wrote it down here.
- JavierMira el correo, yo no estoy equivocado.Look at the email, I am not wrong.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry equivocado, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries equivocado, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
