malentendido
“malentendido” means “misunderstanding” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
misunderstanding
Also: mix-up
📝 In Action
Creo que esto fue un simple malentendido y podemos resolverlo.
B1I think this was a simple misunderstanding and we can resolve it.
Tenemos que aclarar el malentendido sobre la hora de la cita.
B2We have to clear up the misunderstanding about the appointment time.
Hubo un malentendido grave entre los dos equipos.
B1There was a serious mix-up between the two teams.
misunderstood
Also: misinterpreted
📝 In Action
Ella se siente malentendida porque nadie escucha sus ideas.
B2She feels misunderstood because nobody listens to her ideas.
El concepto de libertad es a menudo malentendido.
C1The concept of freedom is often misunderstood.
Translate to Spanish
Words that translate to "malentendido" in Spanish:
misinterpreted→misunderstanding→misunderstood→mix-up→✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: malentendido
Question 1 of 1
Which Spanish phrase means 'to clear up a misunderstanding'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
'Malentendido' is a compound word formed by combining the prefix 'mal-' (meaning 'badly' or 'wrongly') with 'entendido' (the past form of the verb 'entender,' meaning 'to understand'). It literally means 'badly understood.'
First recorded: Medieval Spanish, rooted in Latin verb structures.
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'malentendido' always masculine?
When used as the noun (the mix-up itself), yes, it is always masculine ('el malentendido'). However, when used as an adjective (describing a person or thing that was misunderstood), it must change gender: 'La carta fue malentendida' (feminine).
Can I use 'malentendido' instead of 'error'?
Only if the mistake involves communication. 'Malentendido' is specifically a failure of interpretation or communication. If you made a mistake in calculation, you must use 'error' or 'equivocación'.