Learn Hardcore Spanish (Spain): No pasa nada si nos equivocamos al contestar; lo importante es aprender. - It doesn’t matter if we make a mistake when answering; the important thing is to learn.

When Spanish uses al + infinitive, it emphasizes the action happening exactly at the moment we do something—in this case, answering. Saying “al contestar” is akin to saying “while answering” or “upon answering.” Using “cuando contestamos” would be understood, but it feels more general and less tied to the specific moment of answering.

What does “Nos equivocamos” literally mean, and how does it compare to saying “Hacemos un error”?

“Nos equivocamos” literally translates to “We make a mistake” or “We are wrong.” In everyday Spanish, it’s more common to say “equivocarse” than to say “hacer un error,” which is not used as frequently.

Is “No pasa nada” always interchangeable with “No importa”?

They’re very similar, but “No pasa nada” often conveys “Don’t worry” or “It’s no big deal,” while “No importa” can mean “It doesn’t matter.” Both express that the mistake isn’t a problem, yet “No pasa nada” tends to sound more reassuring and casual in everyday speech.

Why do we say “lo importante es aprender” and not “el importante es aprender”?

When we have “lo + adjective,” it turns that adjective into an abstract concept—here, it’s “the important thing.” If we said “el importante,” we’d be referring to an actual masculine noun that was “important,” which doesn’t make sense in this context. So “lo importante” means “what’s important” or “the important thing.”

What role does “si” play in this sentence?

In this construction, “si” works like an “if” that sets a condition: “If we make a mistake, it doesn’t matter.” It introduces the hypothetical (or real) situation of making mistakes and clarifies that the outcome—“No pasa nada”—remains the same.