número equivocado
/numeɾo ekibokado/from spelling rules
The English phrase "you have the wrong number" is translated into Spanish as número equivocado.
This phrase is used to inform a caller that they have dialed an incorrect telephone number.
What does it mean word for word?
The adjective equivocado literally means mistaken or wrong.
How does it change in a sentence?
In the phrase el número equivocado, the adjective equivocado follows the noun número in both gender and number. Additionally, the reflexive verb phrase equivocarse de is a common way to express making a mistake regarding a specific object, such as a number.
Did you know?
- In many Spanish-speaking countries, it is common to answer the phone with ¿Diga? or ¿Dígame?, which literally means 'Say' or 'Tell me'. This is a stark contrast to the English 'Hello', which is a greeting rather than a request for the caller to speak.
- In some Latin American cultures, it is considered slightly rude to simply say número equivocado without first apologizing with a disculpe or lo siento, even though the caller made the mistake.
- The word equivocado shares a root with the English word 'equivocal', both stemming from the Latin 'aequus' meaning 'equal' and 'vocare' meaning 'to call'.
Examples in context
- Tienes el número equivocado.You have the wrong number.Tatoeba #1402626 by marcelostockle, translation #20854 by CK
- Creo que marcaste el número equivocado.I think you have the wrong number.Tatoeba #1434497 by marcelostockle, translation #282837 by CK
- Perdón, pero creo que ha marcado el número equivocado.Excuse me, but I think you have dialed the wrong number.
- Lamento informarle que se ha equivocado de número.I regret to inform you that you have dialed the wrong number.
- Oye, me parece que te has equivocado de número.Hey, it seems like you've got the wrong number.
- Lo siento, pero has llamado al número incorrecto.Sorry, but you've dialed the wrong number.
- Lo siento, pero es un número equivocado.I am sorry, but it is a wrong number.
Example conversation
Mateo answers a call from a stranger.
- MateoHola, ¿está María?Hello, is María there?
- ElenaNo, creo que tiene el número equivocado.No, I think you have the wrong number.
- MateoOh, disculpe la molestia.Oh, sorry for the bother.
- ElenaNo se preocupe, no pasa nada.Don't worry, it's no problem.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries equivocado, número, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
