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"Equivocarse" is a pronominal verb which is often translated as "to make a mistake", and "confundir" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "to confuse". Learn more about the difference between "equivocarse" and "confundir" below.
equivocarse(
eh
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kee
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boh
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kahr
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seh
)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.
confundir(
kohm
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foon
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deer
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
a. to confuse
La manera en que se formuló la pregunta me confundió.The way that the question was worded confused me.
b. to confound
Cada vez que el consejo saca un documento nuevo, solo confunden más las cosas.Every time the board puts out a new document, they only confound things more.
a. to confuse
Esa mujer me habló como si fuera un amigo de toda la vida. Creo que me confundía con otro.That woman spoke to me as if I were an old friend. I think she was confusing me with someone else.
b. to mix up
Estaba confundiendo este restaurante con el otro donde fuimos.I was mixing up this restaurant with the other one we went to.
c. to mistake
Cuando llamo a alguien por teléfono, siempre me confunden con mi madre porque nos parecemos mucho en la voz.When I phone someone, they always mistake me for my mother because we sound alike.
a. to overwhelm
La familia estaba confundida por la generosidad de la comunidad.The family was overwhelmed by the community's generosity.
confundirse
A pronominal verb always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g., Te ves cansado.).
a. to make a mistake
El contable estaba tan agobiado de trabajo que se confundió en varias facturas que procesó.The accountant was so overwhelmed with work that he made a mistake on several bills that he processed.
b. to get wrong
Es normal confundirse de palabras mientras se aprende otro idioma.It's normal to get words wrong when learning another language.
a. to get confused
Nos confundimos con las líneas de tren y no hicimos el transbordo.We got confused with the train lines and missed the transfer.
b. to get mixed up
Me confundí en el centro comercial porque hay muchos corredores y partes diferentes.I got mixed up in the mall because there are so many corridors and different parts.
a. to blend
Todos los colores del cielo se confunden a la puesta del sol.All the colors of the sky blend at sunset.
b. to disappear
El espía se confundió en la multitud de la manifestación.The spy disappeared into the crowd of the protest.
