Inklingo

How to Say "blunder" in Spanish

English → Spanish

metida de pata

/meh-TEE-dah//meˈtiða/

nounB1informal
Use 'metida de pata' for a social gaffe or an embarrassing remark that you regret saying, especially when it causes awkwardness.
A person looking surprised as they accidentally step one foot into a bucket of bright yellow paint.

Examples

¡Qué metida de pata! No debí decir eso.

What a blunder! I shouldn't have said that.

oso

/OH-soh//ˈo.so/

nounB1informal
Choose 'oso' to describe a noticeable, often embarrassing mistake that makes you look foolish or causes a moment of public awkwardness.
A surprised person wearing red overalls tripping over their feet, causing a large stack of colorful wooden blocks they were carrying to tumble dramatically onto the floor.

Examples

Hice el oso cuando saludé a la persona equivocada en la reunión.

I made a fool of myself (or: I had an embarrassing moment) when I greeted the wrong person at the meeting.

¡Qué oso! Se le cayó la bandeja entera.

How embarrassing! He dropped the entire tray.

Using 'Qué oso'

When used as an exclamation ('¡Qué oso!'), it means 'How embarrassing!' or 'What a blunder!' and is used to describe an awkward situation.

Direct Translation

Mistake: “No quiero hacer el oso (I don't want to do the bear).”

Correction: The phrase 'hacer el oso' must be learned as a unit meaning 'to make a fool of oneself.' Don't translate the words literally.

gallo

/GAH-yoh//ˈɡaʝo/

nounB1
Use 'gallo' specifically for a vocal slip-up, like a cracking voice when singing or speaking, rather than a general mistake.
An illustration of a person speaking, where a small, surprised, high-pitched rooster comically springs out of their open mouth, symbolizing a voice crack.

Examples

Se me salió un gallo cuando intenté cantar esa nota alta.

My voice cracked when I tried to sing that high note.

El presentador hizo un pequeño gallo al inicio de su discurso.

The presenter made a small blunder (voice crack) at the beginning of his speech.

The 'Se' Construction

When talking about an unintended accident like a voice crack, Spanish often uses the 'se' reflexive structure: 'Se me salió...' (It came out from me), showing the action happened accidentally.

Using 'Error'

Mistake: “Hice un error en mi voz.”

Correction: Hice un gallo / Se me salió un gallo. Use 'gallo' specifically for vocal mistakes or squeaks, not general errors.

Mistaking a social blunder for a vocal slip-up

Learners often confuse 'metida de pata' and 'oso' with 'gallo'. Remember that 'gallo' is almost exclusively used for a vocal 'crack' or break, while 'metida de pata' and 'oso' refer to broader social or personal mistakes.

Related Translations

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