Phrase · 🫂 Difficult conversations
Con todo respeto, creo que está usted equivocado.
With all due respect, I think you're mistaken.
C2disagreeing formallyformalAudio · coming soon
Why every word is where it is
Con1prepositionwithtodo1determinerallmasc. · sing.respeto1nounrespectmasc. · sing.,creoverbI thinkcreer · present · 1st sing.queconjunctionthatestá2verbareestar · present · 3rd sing.usted3pronounyou2ndequivocado2adjectivemistakenmasc. · sing..
- Con → respeto: con todo respeto: softener
- está → equivocado: estar equivocado: be wrong
- usted → está: usted → 3rd person está
- equivocado → usted: equivocado agrees with usted (m.)
Why it's built this way
The notes match the numbers above.
- 1Con todo respeto (Spain also con todo el respeto) warns that a disagreement is coming, politely but firmly. Formal register: impersonalisation, nominalisation and correspondence →
- 2estar equivocado = to be wrong: a state, so estar. Feminine equivocada. Ser vs estar I: characteristics and states →
- 3usted after the verb adds formal emphasis; it is often left out (creo que está equivocado). Subject pronouns and forms of address: tú, usted, ustedes →
Variations
- Con todo respeto, creo que se equivoca.
- Con todo el respeto, creo que está usted equivocado.
- Con todo respeto, no estoy de acuerdo con usted.