equivoca
“equivoca” means “makes a mistake” in Spanish (He/She/You formal).
makes a mistake, is wrong
Also: confuses
📝 In Action
Ella siempre se equivoca en los cálculos difíciles.
A2She always makes mistakes in the difficult calculations.
Si usted equivoca el camino, llámenos.
B1If you (formal) confuse the path, call us.
El informe equivoca los datos de ventas.
B2The report confuses (misstates) the sales figures.
Indicative
Present
Imperfect
Preterite
Subjunctive
Present Subjunctive
Imperfect Subjunctive
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: equivoca
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'equivoca' to mean 'He is wrong'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Latin *aequivocare*, meaning 'to use words of double meaning' or 'to be ambiguous.' The meaning evolved in Spanish to focus on the result of that ambiguity: making a mistake.
First recorded: 14th century
Cognates (Related words)
💡 Master Spanish
Take your Spanish to the next level. Read 200+ illustrated and narrated Spanish stories tailored to your level with the Inklingo app!
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'equivoca' and 'está equivocado'?
'Equivoca' (usually 'se equivoca') is the *action* of making a mistake ('He makes a mistake'). 'Está equivocado' is the *state* of being wrong ('He is wrong'). Both are correct, but the verb form ('se equivoca') emphasizes the action or process of erring.
Why does the spelling change in the subjunctive (e.g., 'equivoque')?
Spanish verbs ending in -car (like equivocar) change the 'c' to 'qu' before the vowel 'e' to preserve the hard 'k' sound. If it stayed 'ce,' it would sound like 's' or 'th' (depending on the region).