equivoco
eh-KEE-vo-koh (Stress on the 'vo')
Quick Reference
📝 In Action
Siempre equivoco tu número de teléfono con el de tu hermana.
A2I always mistake your phone number for your sister's.
Yo equivoco los nombres de las calles cuando estoy cansado.
B1I confuse the names of the streets when I am tired.
💡 Grammar Points
Reflexive Use is Key
Most of the time, Spanish speakers use the reflexive form (equivocarse) to mean 'to make a mistake.' You use 'equivoco' (non-reflexive) only when you are actively confusing two separate things.
Spelling Change in Preterite
Since equivocar ends in -car, the 'c' changes to 'qu' in some verb forms (like 'yo equivoqué') to keep the hard 'k' sound.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Saying 'I make a mistake'
Mistake: "Yo equivoco un error."
Correction: Me equivoco. (The verb *equivocarse* already means 'to make a mistake,' so you don't need the word 'error'.)
⭐ Usage Tips
Distinguishing Verb vs. Noun
Pay attention to the stress! 'equivoco' (stress on 'vo') is the verb 'I mistake.' 'equívoco' (stress on 'ví') is the noun meaning 'misunderstanding.'
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: equivoco
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses the reflexive form of the verb *equivocar*?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I say 'He made a mistake'?
You must use the reflexive form in the past tense: 'Él se equivocó.' (He made a mistake.)
If I see 'equívoco' with an accent, what does it mean?
The accented form 'equívoco' is a masculine noun meaning 'a misunderstanding,' 'an ambiguity,' or 'a mistake.' It is a completely different word from the verb form 'equivoco'.