erreur
/e.ʁœʁ/feminine
The English word "error" is translated into French as erreur.
Erreur is the standard and most common translation for error in French. It is frequently used to refer to technical, mathematical or logical mistakes.
Meaning: mistake (noun)
Which one should you use?
While erreur is used for technical or logical mistakes, the word faute is more commonly used when referring to social, moral or spelling mistakes.
Is it said differently in some regions?
Erreur is a universal term that is widely understood in all French-speaking countries.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
Because erreur is a feminine noun, you must use the indefinite article une (une erreur) instead of the masculine un.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has two syllables and is pronounced /e.ʁœʁ/.
Did you know?
- While erreur means mistake, the verb errer means to wander or roam aimlessly, reflecting the idea of straying from a correct path.
- In a French classroom, a teacher might mark an erreur as a lack of understanding, but a faute is often seen as a lack of attention or care.
- In French law, the term erreur is a specific legal concept that can void a contract if one party was mistaken about a fundamental element of the agreement.
Examples in context
- Ce fut une erreur.That was an error.This sentence is useful for demonstrating the use of erreur.Tatoeba #1549611 by sacredceltic, translation #4495149 by CK
- Tu as fait une erreur.You made an error.Tatoeba #334307 by sysko, translation #69515 by CK
- C'est une erreur commune.This is a common error.Tatoeba #580469 by sacredceltic, translation #453131 by CM
- Votre travail contient une erreur importante.Your work contains a significant error.
- Nous devons corriger ce défaut avant de finaliser le projet.We need to fix this error before finalizing the project.
- Je me suis trompé d'heure pour le rendez-vous, quelle bourde !I made a mistake with the appointment time, what a blunder!
- Il a commis une gaffe en racontant cette histoire.He made an error by telling that story.
- 83 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Gabriel and Chloé are looking at a math exam.
- GabrielJ'ai fait une erreur dans ce calcul.I made an error in this calculation.
- ChloéCette erreur est très petite, Gabriel.This error is very small, Gabriel.
- GabrielOui, mais l'erreur change tout le résultat.Yes, but the error changes the whole result.
- ChloéNe t'inquiète pas, ce n'est pas grave.Don't worry, it is not a big deal.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “error” translations and entries erreur, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
