Inklingo

How to Say "mistaken" in Spanish

English → Spanish

equivocado

/eh-kee-boh-KAH-doh//ekiβoˈkaðo/

AdjectiveA2General
Use this adjective when you believe someone else is wrong or when you yourself hold an incorrect opinion or belief.
A storybook illustration showing a child trying to fit a square wooden block into a round hole on a toy sorting box, illustrating a wrong choice.

Examples

Creo que estás equivocado. La reunión es mañana.

I think you're wrong. The meeting is tomorrow.

Tomé el autobús equivocado y llegué tarde.

I took the wrong bus and arrived late.

Marcaste el número de teléfono equivocado.

You dialed the wrong phone number.

Me he equivocado de calle.

I have taken the wrong street.

Use with 'Estar', not 'Ser'

To say someone is wrong, always use the verb 'estar' (e.g., 'Estás equivocado'). Think of being wrong as a temporary state or condition, which is what 'estar' is for.

Matches the Noun

Like most Spanish adjectives, 'equivocado' changes its ending to match the person or thing it describes. Use 'equivocada' for feminine things (la respuesta equivocada) and 'equivocados/as' for plural things (los amigos equivocados).

Team Up with 'Haber'

This form is the partner of the verb 'haber' (to have). Together, they form tenses that talk about completed actions, like 'he equivocado' (I have made a mistake).

The Ending Stays '-o'

When you use 'equivocado' with the verb 'haber', the ending always stays '-o'. It doesn't change for masculine/feminine or singular/plural. For example: 'Ella ha equivocado' and 'Ellos han equivocado'.

Using 'Ser' instead of 'Estar'

Mistake: “Soy equivocado.”

Correction: Estoy equivocado. Being mistaken is a state you are in, not a permanent part of who you are. That's why we use 'estar'.

Forgetting to change the ending

Mistake: “La información está equivocado.”

Correction: La información está equivocada. Since 'información' is a feminine word, the adjective describing it also needs to have the feminine '-a' ending.

Changing the ending after 'haber'

Mistake: “Ella se ha equivocada.”

Correction: Ella se ha equivocado. When used with 'haber' to talk about a past action, the participle always ends in '-o', no matter who did the action.

confundido

con-foon-DEE-doh/kon.funˈdi.ðo/

AdjectiveA2General
Use this adjective when you are feeling mentally disorganized, bewildered, or unable to understand something clearly.
A simple storybook illustration of a child with a puzzled expression, scratching their head and shrugging their shoulders, indicating confusion.

Examples

Estaba tan confundido que no sabía qué responder.

I was so confused that I didn't know what to answer.

Ella cree que la fecha está confundida con la de la semana pasada.

She thinks the date is mixed up with last week's date.

Si ves a alguien confundido, ayúdale.

If you see someone bewildered, help them.

Adjective Agreement

Like all Spanish adjectives, 'confundido' must change its ending to match the person or thing it describes: confundida (f), confundidos (m. pl.), confundidas (f. pl.).

State vs. Quality (Estar vs. Ser)

Since confusion is usually a temporary state or emotion, you almost always use the verb estar with 'confundido'. Using ser (e.g., Soy confundido) is grammatically incorrect for this meaning.

Using Ser instead of Estar

Mistake: “La profesora es confundida.”

Correction: La profesora está confundida. (Use *estar* because confusion is a temporary state.)

equivocado

Past ParticipleB1General
Use this past participle with 'haber' to indicate that a past action resulted in taking the wrong path, making a mistake in direction, or choosing incorrectly.

Examples

Me he equivocado de calle.

I have taken the wrong street.

Equivocado vs. Confundido

Learners often confuse 'equivocado' and 'confundido'. Remember, 'equivocado' usually implies a factual error or incorrect belief, while 'confundido' describes a state of mental bewilderment or lack of clarity.

Related Translations

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