How to Say "wrong" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “wrong” is “mal” — use 'mal' when 'wrong' describes how an action was performed, often translating to 'badly' or 'poorly'. It modifies verbs..
mal
/mal//mal/
Examples
Hice mal el examen.
I did the exam wrong.
Duermo muy mal por la noche.
I sleep very badly at night.
El examen me salió mal.
The exam went badly for me.
Perdón, entendí mal.
Sorry, I understood wrong.
Describing Actions: `mal` vs. `malo`
mal is used to describe how an action is done (it's an adverb). It answers 'how?'. For example, 'Canto mal' (I sing badly). It never changes its form.
Mixing up `mal` and `malo`
Mistake: “Yo cocino malo.”
Correction: Yo cocino mal. To describe a verb (an action like 'cocinar'), always use 'mal'. 'Malo' is used to describe nouns (things or people).
falso
FAHL-soh/ˈfalso/
Examples
La respuesta que diste es falsa.
The answer you gave is wrong.
Esa noticia es completamente falsa.
That news is completely false.
¿Es verdadero o falso que la capital de Chile es Santiago?
Is it true or false that the capital of Chile is Santiago?
El rumor era falso, nadie perdió su trabajo.
The rumor was untrue; nobody lost their job.
Adjective Agreement
Remember that 'falso' must match the thing it describes. If you are talking about a feminine word like 'historia' (story), you must say 'falsa' ('una historia falsa').
Falso vs. Equivocado
Mistake: “Usar 'falso' para describir a una persona que cometió un error (e.g., 'El estudiante está falso').”
Correction: Use 'equivocado' when a person is wrong or mistaken ('El estudiante está equivocado'). 'Falso' is usually reserved for things or for people who are deceitful (see next definition).
equivocado
/eh-kee-boh-KAH-doh//ekiβoˈkaðo/
Examples
Creo que el tren sale a las cinco, pero quizá estoy equivocado.
I think the train leaves at five, but perhaps I'm wrong.
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.
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).
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.
injusto
een-HOO-stoh/inˈxusto/
Examples
Es injusto que tengas que trabajar el domingo.
It's wrong that you have to work on Sunday.
Pienso que es injusto que solo yo tenga que limpiar la cocina.
I think it's unfair that only I have to clean the kitchen.
El castigo fue injusto porque él no había hecho nada malo.
The punishment was unjust because he hadn't done anything wrong.
La ley parece injusta para los ciudadanos más pobres.
The law seems unfair to the poorest citizens.
Changing the Ending
Like most Spanish adjectives, 'injusto' changes its ending to match the thing it describes. Use 'injusta' for feminine words (la regla injusta) and add 's' for plural (los castigos injustos).
Mal vs. Equivocado
Related Translations
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