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.

equivocados

eh-kee-voh-KAH-dohs

AdjectivemB1

mistaken?about a person or group,wrong?about a calculation or answer

Also:incorrect?formal or written context

📝 In Action

Los jueces estaban equivocados al dar ese veredicto.

The judges were mistaken in giving that verdict.

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

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

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

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

💡 Grammar Points

Gender and Number Match

This word ends in '-os', so it must describe multiple people or things that are masculine (or a mix of genders). If you are referring to a group of women, you must use 'equivocadas'.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Using the Wrong Verb

Mistake: "Somos equivocados."

Correction: Use 'Estar equivocados'. Being mistaken is usually a temporary state or a result of an action, so Spanish uses 'estar' (to be) instead of 'ser' (to be).

⭐ Usage Tips

From the Verb

This word is the past form of the verb 'equivocarse' (to make a mistake). When you use 'estar equivocados', you are describing the current state of having made a mistake.

✏️ 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

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).