Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
How to Say "Mistake" in Spanish: Error, Equivocación, and Related Words
Error · noun (masculine) · eh-RROHR
Mistake in Spanish is most commonly error or equivocación. Error is neutral and can be accidental or systematic. Equivocación implies a personal misjudgment. The reflexive verb equivocarse (to be mistaken) is essential for expressing that someone made a mistake.
eh-RROHR — two syllables with a rolled rr and stress on RROHR. Equivocación: eh-kee-boh-kah-see-OHN.
Cometí un error al enviar el correo a la persona equivocada.
I made a mistake by sending the email to the wrong person.
Mistake in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for mistake, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| error | mistake | eh-RROHR | Default, widely understood |
| equivocación | mistake | Universal (a personal blunder) | |
| fallo | mistake | Spain (a failure or fault) | |
| metida de pata | mistake | Informal (putting your foot in it) |
How Native Speakers Use Error
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Admitting a mistake
Reconozco que fue un error no consultar con el equipo.
I recognize it was a mistake not to consult with the team.
Error is the go-to word for acknowledging something went wrong.
Using equivocarse
Me equivoqué de dirección y terminé en otro barrio.
I made a mistake with the address and ended up in another neighborhood.
Equivocarse is the reflexive verb meaning to make a mistake or be wrong. It takes de before the thing you got wrong.
Informal register
¡Qué metida de pata! Le dije feliz cumpleaños y no era su cumpleaños.
What a blunder! I said happy birthday and it wasn't her birthday.
Metida de pata is a colorful idiom for an embarrassing social mistake.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Error
Using mistaque or similar anglicism
Incorrect: Hice una mistaca en el examen.
Correct: Cometí un error en el examen.
There is no Spanish word mistaca or similar anglicism. The correct vocabulary is error, equivocación, or the verb equivocarse. Cometer un error is the standard collocation.
Saying soy equivocado instead of estoy equivocado
Incorrect: Soy equivocado sobre la fecha.
Correct: Estoy equivocado sobre la fecha.
Being wrong is a temporary state, not an inherent trait. Use estar (estoy equivocado = I am wrong/mistaken), not ser (soy equivocado would absurdly imply you are a mistake by nature).
Lock in Mistake Vocabulary with the Parrot Method
Why word lists alone don't stick
Memorizing a translation feels productive, but most learners forget 70% of what they studied within 48 hours. Vocabulary needs spaced repetition AND real-world exposure to transfer to long-term memory.
See Error used by native speakers
Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using error in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear Cometí un error al enviar el correo a la persona equivocada. while watching someone live the moment, connecting meaning, sound, and rhythm at once.
Save, review, repeat, stay consistent
Tap any word to save it. Parrot's spaced-repetition system surfaces it right before you'd forget, no manual flashcard creation. The watch, parrot back, save, review cycle turns recognition into fluency at 2.7x the speed of traditional study.
Common Questions About Mistake in Spanish
- How do you say mistake in Spanish?
- The most common translations are error (general mistake) and equivocación (personal blunder). To say 'I made a mistake,' use me equivoqué or cometí un error. For 'by mistake,' say por error or por equivocación.
- What is the difference between error and equivocación?
- Error is broader and more neutral — it can refer to typos, system errors, calculation mistakes, or personal errors. Equivocación specifically implies a human misjudgment, a wrong choice or decision. You can cometer an error or an equivocación, but only humans have equivocaciones.
- How do you say it was my mistake in Spanish?
- Fue mi error or fue mi culpa (it was my fault) are direct. Me equivoqué (I was wrong/I made a mistake) is the reflexive verb form. La culpa fue mía is more emphatic about taking personal responsibility.