Equívoco → equivocar → equivocado

Question

So, here you have the adjective equivocado, which the dictionary translates as wrong. The adjective stems from the verb equivocar, which is translated as to be wrong, and the verb itself stems from another adjective — equívoco, which means ambiguous.

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Now, logically, if equívoco means ambiguous, then equivocar should mean to make ambiguous, and equivocado should mean made ambiguous. Is the dictionary missing a subtler meaning here, or does this one adjective really change so much in its transition through the verb form?

I think you can stick with the verb meaning to be wrong, to be mistaken. It also means wrong number ( telephone) . - annierats, Jul 23, 2012

@annierats, I asked a Spanish speaker about this, and he said that there is no major difference and to him equívoco means more "wrong" than "ambiguous". Would you confirm this? - DonReba, Jul 24, 2012

Answer 1

Clearly a mistake has been made. Somehow someone slipped a typo through.

Anyways

Equívoco,ca is not a verb conjugation from equivocar. Notice the accent mark over the í. Equívoco is in fact its own adj. …and has meanings of: ambiguous, equivocal.

Equívoco…can also mean misunderstanding, ambiguity.

_____However_____

Equivocar is a verb transitive- to choose wrongly, mistaken. Equivocarse vpr to be wrong. Se equivoco de nombre. He got the name wrong (as in- mistaken)

equivoco, equivocas, equivoca, equivocamos, equivocan

There are no accent marks over any of the (i)s in the present conjugated forms.

Hope this helps ?

equivocado is the past participle. - viejito, Jul 23, 2012

Muy bien dicho amigo. =] - DJ_Huero, Jul 23, 2012

This does not really add anything to the information already contained in the question, except that equivocado is a participle, not an adjective. - DonReba, Jul 24, 2012

Answer 2

Viejito gave an excellent answer. I just wanted to add that there are many verbs in Spanish and English that have multiple meanings. Take a look at llevar, dejat, ver, and many more.

It may be an excellent answer, but it does not address the question. - DonReba, Jul 24, 2012