How to Say ‘Make a Mistake’ in Portuguese: Cometer um Erro — Practice

Use cometer um erro for making an error

Cometer um erro is a common way to say “make a mistake.” Use erro for an error or mistake, and engano for a mix-up or misunderstanding.

Use errar for a concise statement

Errar means to make an error or get something wrong. It can be followed by a noun or used on its own. For an accidental misunderstanding, enganar-se often emphasizes that you were mistaken.

Acknowledge the mistake and correct it

If the error affected someone else, name what happened and explain the correction. Desculpa, me enganei sounds natural when you have mistaken a fact; preciso corrigir is useful for a written error.

Remember: Cometer um erro is a general phrase; errar and enganar-se help describe the specific mistake.

Check your understanding

Choose the English meaning of each Portuguese example. Answer before looking back at the tables. These questions check the written examples in this guide; they are not a listening or proficiency test.

Recall the Portuguese, then say it

Read the English prompt and say a Portuguese version before opening the answer. The answer shows the example from the lesson; other natural translations may also work. Compare the meaning and the situation rather than counting a different word as automatically wrong.

1. I made a mistake while filling out the form.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Cometi um erro ao preencher o formulário.

2. It was a mix-up; I sent the message to the wrong person.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Foi um engano; mandei a mensagem para a pessoa errada.

3. I got the apartment number wrong.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Errei o número do apartamento.

4. I may have been mistaken about the time.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Posso ter me enganado sobre o horário.

5. Sorry, I was mistaken about the day. The meeting is on Thursday.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Desculpa, me enganei sobre o dia. A reunião é na quinta.

6. I noticed the mistake and have already corrected the document.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Percebi o erro e já corrigi o documento.

Make the phrase useful to you

Choose one example you could actually use. Say it once from memory, then change one detail that fits your life, such as the person, place, time, or object. Check whether your change also needs a different verb form, article, or adjective ending. If it does, compare it with the pattern in the explanation.

Cometer um erro is a general phrase; errar and enganar-se help describe the specific mistake.

Return to two prompts tomorrow without opening the answers first. If a phrase still feels difficult, shorten it to a useful chunk and build the complete sentence again.

Sources and your next lesson

This I Speak Portuguese practice guide builds on our How to Say ‘Make a Mistake’ in Portuguese: Cometer um Erro lesson on Real Life Portuguese, with written recall tasks and additional speaking practice. The explanations and examples are teaching material; the practice questions are exercises, not a transcript of a recording.

To add Brazilian audio to your routine, choose a lesson in the Real Life Portuguese app. The app offers its own lessons and practice; this page does not imply that every example here has an app recording.