خَطَأ
ḵaṭaʔfeminine
The English word 'mistake' can be translated into Arabic using several forms, most commonly خَطَأ (ḵaṭaʔ). Wiktionary also lists غَلْطَة (ḡalṭa) and غَلَط (ḡalaṭ).
Meaning: error (noun)
Ways to say it
| Arabic | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| خَطَأ | ḵaṭaʔ | feminine |
| غَلْطَة | ḡalṭa | feminine |
| غَلَط | ḡalaṭ | masculine |
The term is used to denote an error. You can also use the related verb أَخْطَأَ to mean 'to err' or 'to make a mistake', or أَسَاء اَلْفَهْم to mean 'to take one thing for another'.
Which one should you use?
خَطَأ is a formal term for a mistake or error, whereas غَلْطَة is a more common, colloquial way to refer to a mistake or a slip-up. The masculine form غَلَط is used to describe the concept of error or wrongness, often in the sense of 'it is an error'.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb أَخْطَأَ is the formal way to express the action of making a mistake or erring. In colloquial spoken Arabic, you might use the phrase غَلْطَة كَبِيرَة to express that someone has made a major blunder.
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization for خَطَأ is ḵaṭaʔ.
Did you know?
- The root of أَخْطَأَ (to err) is also linked to the idea of 'missing a target', similar to how an archer might miss the mark in classical Arabic poetry.
- In many Arabic dialects, if you want to say someone 'made a mistake' in judgment, you might use a word related to 'wandering' or 'going astray', rather than a direct synonym for 'error'.
- The formal term خَطَأ is also used in legal and religious contexts to describe a 'sin of omission' or a mistake made without malicious intent, which is often distinguished from a deliberate crime.
Examples in context
- قد ارتكبت خطأ فادحًاYou have committed a grave mistake.
- ما فعلته كان غلط!What you did was a mistake!
- أعتذر عن الخطأI apologize for the mistake.
- أسف على الغلطةSorry for the mistake.
- أنا أدرك أنني أخطأتI realize I made a mistake.
- أنا مدرك للغلطةI am aware of the mistake.
- وقعتُ في خَطَأٍ بسيطٍ.waqa'tu fi khata'in basitin.I made a small mistake.
- هل هناك أي خَطَأٍ في الورقة؟hal hunaka ayyu khata'in fi al-waraqa?Is there any mistake in the paper?
Example conversation
Nour is checking Omar's homework for errors.
- نور Nourيا عمر، هناك خَطَأٌ هنا.ya Omar, hunaka khata'un huna.Omar, there is a mistake here.
- عمر Omarأين هو هذا الخَطَأُ؟ayna huwa hadha al-khata'?Where is this mistake?
- نور Nourفي هذه الجملة فقط.fi hadhihi al-jumla faqat.Only in this sentence.
- عمر Omarشكراً لكِ يا نور على التنبيه.shukran laki ya Nour ala al-tanbih.Thank you, Nour, for pointing it out.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “mistake” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
