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equivocados

eh-kee-voh-KAH-dohs/ekiβoˈkaðos/

“equivocados” means “mistaken” in Spanish (about a person or group).

mistaken, wrong

Also: incorrect
A simple storybook illustration showing a person attempting to hammer a nail into a wooden board using the handle end of the hammer instead of the head, illustrating a clear mistake or misunderstanding.

📝 In Action

Los jueces estaban equivocados al dar ese veredicto.

B1

The judges were mistaken in giving that verdict.

Pensábamos que las instrucciones eran claras, pero estábamos todos equivocados.

A2

We thought the instructions were clear, but we were all wrong.

Si los datos están equivocados, tenemos que empezar de nuevo.

B2

If the data is wrong, we have to start again.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • erróneos (erroneous)
  • incorrectos (incorrect)

Antonyms

  • correctos (correct)
  • acertados (right, accurate)

Common Collocations

  • estar equivocados – to be wrong/mistaken
  • datos equivocados – wrong data

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: equivocados

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence correctly uses 'equivocados'?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
equivocar(to mistake (transitive)) — Verb
equivocarse(to be mistaken (reflexive)) — Verb
equivocación(mistake, error) — Noun
equivocada(mistaken (feminine singular)) — Adjective
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

The word comes from the Latin verb *aequivocare*, meaning 'to call by the same name' or 'to confuse one thing with another.' It combines *aequus* (equal) and *vocare* (to call). The meaning evolved to refer to the state of being confused or wrong.

First recorded: 15th century

Cognates (Related words)

Italian: equivocatoEnglish: equivocate

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why do I use 'estar' and not 'ser' with 'equivocados'?

You use 'estar' because being mistaken is considered a temporary state or the result of a previous action (making a mistake). If you were to use 'ser', it would imply that being wrong is a permanent part of someone's identity, which is not the intended meaning.

Is 'equivocados' only used for people?

No, it can be used for any masculine plural noun. For example, you can say 'Los cálculos están equivocados' (The calculations are wrong) or 'Los datos estaban equivocados' (The data was wrong).