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"Equivocarse" is a pronominal verb which is often translated as "to make a mistake", and "cagarla" is an intransitive verb phrase which is often translated as "to fuck it up". Learn more about the difference between "equivocarse" and "cagarla" below.
equivocarse(
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)A pronominal verb always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g., Te ves cansado.).
a. to make a mistake
Apaga la música; no quiero equivocarme.Can you turn the music off? I don't want to make a mistake.
b. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
La empresa reconoce que se equivocó con su respuesta.The company recognizes that it got its response wrong.
El gobierno se equivocó con esta medida.The government got it wrong with this policy.
a. to be wrong
No me equivoqué con él; es un hombre muy amable y sincero.I wasn't wrong about him; he's a very kind, sincere man.
b. to be mistaken
Creo que te equivocas; mi hija nunca haría tal cosa.You must be mistaken; my daughter would never do such a thing.
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
Mi madre se equivocó de tren y, por consiguiente, no llegó aquí hasta la una de la madrugada.My mother got on the wrong train and, as a result, she didn't get here till one in the morning.
Te equivocaste de mes. El cumpleaños de Fernando es el dos de julio y no el dos de junio.You got the month wrong. Fernando's birthday is the second of July not the second of June.
equivocar
A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
4. (to mix up)
a. to make ... make a mistake
Esa música tan alta me hizo equivocar; tendré que volver a calcular el total.That really loud music made me make a mistake; I'm going to have to calculate the total again.
b. to make ... go wrong
Cállate un momento. Estos cálculos son complicados y me vas a equivocar.Can you be quiet for a moment? These calculations are complicated, and you're going to make me go wrong.
a. to choose the wrong
Creo que equivoqué la carrera; mi hermano gana mucho más que yo.I think I chose the wrong career; my brother earns much more than I do.
b. to pick the wrong
Me parece que equivoqué la especialidad, y ahora voy a tener problemas para conseguir trabajo.It looks like I picked the wrong major, and now it will be difficult to get a job.
cagarla
An intransitive verb phrase is a phrase that combines a verb with a preposition or other particle and does not require a direct object (e.g., Everybody please stand up.).
1. (colloquial) (vulgar) (to make a mistake)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
A word or phrase that is crude, indecent, and generally rejected by society.
a. to fuck it up (colloquial) (vulgar)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
A word or phrase that is crude, indecent, and generally rejected by society.
No quiero cagarla con Verónica. Prométeme que no le dirás que me viste con otra.I don't want to fuck it up with Veronica. Promise me you won't tell her you saw me with someone else.
b. to screw it up (colloquial)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
No vayas a cagarla de nuevo en el trabajo. No te darán una segunda oportunidad.Don't screw it up again at work. You won't get another chance.
