Equivocarse

[ROBINDESBOIS]

Dejalo que se equivoque
como se traduce equivocar en este contexto?

[Perikles]

Let him make a mistake

[CrOtALiTo]

There's other definition or translate of the word is equivocate.

I'm in the correct?
Equivocate and mistake are merely the same or solely are used in different circumstances.

[Rusty]

Originally Posted by CrOtALiTo

There's other definition or translate of the word is equivocate.

I'm in the correct? (See corrections below.)

Another translation of the word ... is ....
Am I correct?

When you're asking a question, Crotalito, the verb is split into a main and auxiliary verb and the subject is placed in between them. When the verb is the copula ('to be'), like in your question, the copula precedes the subject. For example:

I am correct. (statement)
Am I correct? (question)
You are my friend. (statement)
Are you my friend? (question)
John drives. (statement)
Does John drive? (question)
John drove. (statement)
Did John drive? (question)


Equivocate can mean the same thing as 'to make a mistake', but it is a higher-register word. So, you won't hear it used as often as 'make a mistake'.
'To err' is also another way to say 'to make a mistake'.

The most common translation would be the one Perikles gave.

[CrOtALiTo]

I got it.

Thank you for the correction.

Am I correct?
Am I right?

In the sentence equivocate and mistake can be used in the same statement.

[Rusty]

equivocate = make a mistake (not just mistake - that's a noun)
equivocate = err

Let him make a mistake. (Que haga un error.)
= Let him err.
= Let him equivocate.

The last two sentences aren't used as much as the first sentence.

To err is human. (Errar es humano.)
= To make a mistake is human.
= To equivocate is human.

The last two sentences aren't used as much as the first sentence.

[bspielburg]

Equivocate does not mean to make a mistake, it means to deceive. So it could not be used there unfortunately.

equivocate (v): Use ambiguous language so as to conceal the truth or avoid committing oneself.

[Rusty]

You're correct. Bad semantics applied to a false friend makes for a mistake.


Welcome to the forums!

[JPablo]

Right, in English. (this is a "false cognate" or "false friend" with the Spanish "equivocarse" which is what I believe Rusty meant.)

ENGLISH:
e·quiv·o·cate , v.i., -cat·ed, -cat·ing.
to use ambiguous or unclear expressions, usually to avoid commitment or in order to mislead; prevaricate or hedge: When asked directly for his position on disarmament, the candidate only equivocated.

SPANISH - ENGLISH (from Oxford Superlex)
equivocar vt
a ‹ persona › to make … make a mistake, to make … go wrong; ya me hiciste equivocar now you’ve made me go wrong o make a mistake, I’ve made a mistake o gone wrong now because of you; no me hables mientras cuento que me equivocas don’t talk to me while I’m counting, you’ll make me go wrong o you’ll put me off o you’ll make me lose count
b (elegir mal): equivocó el camino dedicándose a la enseñanza he chose the wrong career when he went in for teaching
equivocarse v pron (cometer un error) to make a mistake; (estar en un error) to be wrong o mistaken; te equivocas, no se lo dije a nadie you’re wrong o mistaken, I didn’t tell anyone; me equivoqué con él I was wrong about him; equivocarse DE algo: me equivoqué de autobús I took the wrong bus; es fácil equivocarse de calle it’s easy to go down/get the wrong street; la reunión es el jueves, no te equivoques de día the meeting’s on Thursday, don’t get the day wrong; me equivoqué de paraguas, éste no es el mío I picked up the wrong umbrella, this one isn’t mine

[CrOtALiTo]

Thank you for the advices.