"Erreur" is likely the first word that comes to mind when you think of "mistake" in French. But just like in English, there are many different ways to express the idea of an error, a blunder, or a slip-up. Learning French means you're bound to make a few mistakes along the way, and knowing how to describe them – and other people's – can really enrich your vocabulary. Let's explore 9 different ways to say "mistake" in French!

The general 'mistake' or 'error' – erreur

The general 'mistake' or 'error' – erreur

Erreur is the most common and versatile French word for 'mistake' or 'error'.

A crucial point for learners: erreur is always a feminine noun. You will always say une erreur, never un erreur, even though many nouns ending in -eur are masculine (like un moteur or un professeur). This makes it a common trap for French learners.

This word can describe a wide range of mistakes, from factual inaccuracies and calculation errors to misjudgments or simple slips. It’s a very neutral term.

One of the most frequent ways to use erreur is with the verb faire (to do/make), forming the common expression faire une erreur (to make a mistake).

Another essential phrase is par erreur, meaning 'by mistake' or 'accidentally'. This is used to indicate that something happened unintentionally.

While often interchangeable, erreur typically refers to an incorrectness or an oversight, whereas faute (also feminine) can carry a stronger connotation of fault, blame, or a moral failing. However, erreur is generally a safer and more broadly applicable choice.

Since erreur is feminine, any adjectives describing it must also be feminine. For example, une grosse erreur (a big mistake), une petite erreur (a small mistake), une grave erreur (a serious mistake).

💡 * J'ai fait une erreur dans mon calcul. (I made a mistake in my calculation.)

C'était une erreur de ma part. (It was a mistake on my part.)

J'ai envoyé le message par erreur. (I sent the message by mistake.)

Ne fais pas la même erreur. (Don't make the same mistake.)

Cette décision a été une grave erreur. (This decision was a serious error.)

The 'fault' or 'error' (often moral or in writing) – faute

The 'fault' or 'error' (often moral or in writing) – faute

The French word faute is a versatile feminine noun that primarily translates to 'fault' or 'error'. It encompasses a range of meanings, from moral failings to mistakes in written work.

In a moral or ethical context, faute can refer to a wrongdoing, a sin, or a blameworthy act. It implies responsibility and often a deviation from what is right or expected. For example, a serious misstep in conduct could be described as une faute grave (a serious fault or offense).

Beyond morality, faute is very commonly used to denote an error in writing or speaking. This includes spelling mistakes (faute d'orthographe), grammatical errors (faute de grammaire), or even stylistic missteps. It's the go-to word for pointing out inaccuracies in text, especially in academic or professional settings.

Several common expressions utilize faute. Faire une faute means 'to make a mistake or error'. Sans faute means 'without fail' or 'flawlessly'. C'est de ma faute directly translates to 'It's my fault', taking responsibility for an error or mishap.

While similar to erreur (a general mistake), faute often carries a stronger connotation of blameworthiness, a violation of a rule, or a more significant lapse, especially in moral or formal contexts like exams, legal matters, or professional conduct. Erreur can be a simple oversight, while faute often implies a more deliberate or impactful failing.

Understanding faute is crucial for grasping both everyday French communication and more formal discourse, as it highlights the French emphasis on precision, responsibility, and adherence to rules, whether moral or linguistic. Recognizing a 'faute' often leads to correction and accountability.

💡 * J'ai fait une faute d'orthographe dans mon devoir. (I made a spelling mistake in my homework.)

C'est de ma faute, j'aurais dû vérifier. (It's my fault, I should have checked.)

Le juge a reconnu sa faute. (The judge acknowledged his wrongdoing.)

Elle a commis une grave faute professionnelle. (She committed a serious professional misconduct.)

Il a réussi l'examen sans faute. (He passed the exam flawlessly/without a single mistake.)

The 'oversight' or 'inadvertent mistake' – mégarde

The 'oversight' or 'inadvertent mistake' – mégarde

Mégarde is a French feminine noun meaning 'oversight,' 'inadvertent mistake,' or 'unintentional error.' It highlights an action done without sufficient attention or care.

The most frequent use of mégarde is in the fixed expression par mégarde, which translates to 'inadvertently,' 'by mistake,' or 'unintentionally.' This phrase emphasizes the accidental nature of an action.

Unlike a general erreur (error) or faute (a fault, often implying blame), mégarde specifically refers to a lapse due to inattention or an oversight, not necessarily a serious failing or a deliberate act.

This term often carries a slightly formal or literary tone, making it less common in very casual, everyday spoken French but perfectly acceptable in written or more formal contexts.

💡 * Il a envoyé le message par mégarde. (He sent the message inadvertently.)

J'ai laissé la porte ouverte par mégarde. (I left the door open by mistake.)

C'était une mégarde de ma part de ne pas vérifier. (It was an oversight on my part not to check.)

Suite à une mégarde, le document a été supprimé. (Following an oversight, the document was deleted.)

The 'blunder' or 'foolish mistake' – bévue

The word bévue in French translates to 'blunder,' 'gaffe,' or 'foolish mistake' in English. It refers to an error that is often embarrassing or noticeable, typically due to lack of attention or judgment.

A bévue isn't just any mistake; it's typically a significant error, often made publicly or with noticeable consequences, leading to a sense of awkwardness or embarrassment for the person who made it.

Grammatically, bévue is a feminine noun. Therefore, it will be preceded by feminine articles or adjectives, such as une bévue (a blunder) or la bévue (the blunder).

💡 * Il a commis une grave bévue lors de la réunion. (He made a serious blunder during the meeting.)

Cette bévue a coûté cher à l'entreprise. (This blunder cost the company dearly.)

J'espère ne pas faire de bévue pendant ma présentation. (I hope not to make a blunder during my presentation.)

Sa bévue a provoqué un fou rire général. (His blunder caused general laughter.)

The 'social gaffe' or 'faux pas' – gaffe

In French, a gaffe refers to a blunder, an awkward mistake, or specifically, a social faux pas. It's used to describe an embarrassing error, often one that causes discomfort or offense in a social setting.

This word is very common in everyday, informal conversations. You'd use it when someone says or does something inappropriate, tactless, or simply clumsy in a social situation. It often implies a lack of judgment or awareness.

It's important to remember that gaffe is a feminine noun. Therefore, you will always use it with feminine articles and adjectives, such as une gaffe or la gaffe, and any accompanying adjectives would also be feminine.

You'll frequently encounter expressions like faire une gaffe (to make a gaffe or blunder) or éviter une gaffe (to avoid a gaffe). Understanding these common phrases will greatly enhance your conversational French.

Mastering the use of gaffe helps you describe those universally relatable moments of social awkwardness in French. It's a highly practical term for any learner aiming for natural-sounding conversation.

💡 * J'ai fait une énorme gaffe en parlant de son ex. (I made a huge gaffe talking about his ex.)

Attention à ne pas faire de gaffe pendant la réunion. (Be careful not to make a gaffe during the meeting.)

C'était une gaffe de ma part de l'oublier. (It was a gaffe on my part to forget him/her.)

Il a commis une gaffe diplomatique. (He committed a diplomatic gaffe.)

Comment éviter de faire des gaffes quand on parle une nouvelle langue ? (How to avoid making blunders when speaking a new language?)

The 'slip of the tongue or pen' – lapsus

The word lapsus in French directly translates to a 'slip' or an 'error,' most commonly referring to an unintended mistake in speech or writing. It's the perfect term for what English speakers call a 'slip of the tongue' or 'slip of the pen.'

Originating from Latin, lapsus is a precise term. While a general erreur (error) can be any mistake, a lapsus specifically implies an unconscious or accidental verbal or written blunder, often revealing an underlying thought rather than a simple factual error.

You'll frequently encounter lapsus in two specific Latin-derived phrases commonly used in French: lapsus linguae (slip of the tongue) and lapsus calami (slip of the pen). These expressions are very common to pinpoint the exact nature of the unintentional error, whether spoken or written.

Beyond simple mistakes, lapsus is famously associated with the 'Freudian slip' (lapsus freudien), where an error in speech or memory is believed to reveal unconscious thoughts or feelings. This psychological interpretation adds a deeper layer to the word's usage in both everyday and academic contexts.

While it carries a slightly formal or academic tone, using lapsus is a very precise way to describe an unintentional verbal or written mistake. It's often used when someone accidentally says one thing but means another, or writes something different from their intention, highlighting the involuntary nature of the error.

💡 * Il a fait un lapsus en disant le nom de son ex-petite amie.

Ce n'était qu'un lapsus linguae, bien sûr que je voulais dire 'oui'!

Un lapsus calami a conduit à une erreur dans le rapport.

Son lapsus a révélé ce qu'il pensait vraiment de la situation.

Attention aux lapsus lorsque tu rédiges des documents importants.

The 'misunderstanding' or 'error in judgment' – méprise

The French word méprise (a feminine noun) refers to a misunderstanding, an error in judgment, or a mistake in perception.

Unlike a simple factual error (une erreur), méprise implies a deeper misinterpretation, often concerning someone's identity, intentions, or the nature of a situation. It's a failure to correctly understand or identify something or someone.

While both méprise and erreur can mean 'mistake,' méprise carries the specific connotation of being mistaken about someone/something or misjudging. It's a feminine noun and can sometimes sound a bit more formal or literary than a simple 'erreur'.

💡 * C'est une méprise, je ne suis pas la personne que vous cherchez. (It's a misunderstanding, I'm not the person you're looking for.)

Il y a eu une méprise sur l'heure du rendez-vous. (There was a misunderstanding about the appointment time.)

Sa gentillesse était une méprise, il n'était pas si innocent. (His kindness was a misjudgment, he wasn't so innocent.)

Je crois qu'il y a une méprise sur mon rôle dans cette affaire. (I believe there's a misunderstanding about my role in this matter.)

The 'big blunder' or 'gross error' – bourde

The 'big blunder' or 'gross error' – bourde

In French, a bourde (feminine noun) refers to a significant mistake, a blunder, or a gross error. It often implies an embarrassing or clumsy error in judgment or action.

Unlike a simple erreur (error), a bourde suggests something more substantial and usually carries a connotation of awkwardness or even a minor scandal. It's a mistake that draws attention or causes a notable consequence.

You'll often hear the expression faire une bourde, meaning 'to make a blunder' or 'to put one's foot in it'.

💡 * Il a fait une énorme bourde en révélant le secret. (He made a huge blunder by revealing the secret.)

Sa bourde a gâché la présentation. (His blunder ruined the presentation.)

C'était une bourde impardonnable de sa part. (It was an unforgivable blunder on his part.)

Attention à ne pas faire de bourdes lors de la réunion. (Be careful not to make any blunders during the meeting.)

The 'silly mistake' or 'foolish act' – bêtise

The French word bêtise (pronounced beh-teez) is a versatile noun used to describe a 'silly mistake,' a 'foolish act,' or even 'nonsense.' It’s derived from bête (animal, beast), implying something unintelligent or foolish.

It often implies a minor, sometimes childish, error or an act lacking good judgment, rather than a serious fault. Think of it as a 'naughty thing' a child might do, or a 'gaffe' an adult makes. It's generally less severe than erreur (error) or faute (fault).

You'll frequently hear it in common phrases: faire une bêtise means 'to make a mistake' or 'to do something silly,' while dire des bêtises translates to 'to talk nonsense' or 'to say silly things.'

While not always entirely negative, bêtise often carries a connotation of slight disapproval, though sometimes with a touch of affection or amusement, especially when referring to children's antics. It highlights a lack of seriousness or intelligence in an action or statement.

💡 *Mon fils a fait une bêtise en dessinant sur le mur. (My son did something silly/naughty by drawing on the wall.)
*Arrête de dire des bêtises, ce n'est pas vrai! (Stop talking nonsense, that's not true!)
*C'était une bêtise d'oublier nos parapluies. (It was a foolish mistake to forget our umbrellas.)
*Les bêtises de mon chiot sont adorables. (My puppy's silly antics are adorable.)
*Ne fais pas de bêtises pendant que je suis parti. (Don't do anything silly/foolish while I'm gone.)

Are there other ways to say 'mistake' in French?

Our list features the most common ways to say 'mistake' in French. But the French language, like any other, is rich with nuances, from old-fashioned terms to regionalisms and emerging slang that even native speakers might be learning!

You can also do an online search for “comment dire erreur en ___” followed by a specific Francophone country or region to discover local expressions.

You might come across interesting synonyms for erreur or faute. Always make sure to check a word’s definition and try to see it used in context before you incorporate it into your vocabulary.

Pay attention as you read, watch, and listen to things in French — you may discover different ways to talk about mistakes, errors, or blunders.

And if you’re looking for a comprehensive list of synonyms related to 'mistake' or 'error' in French, the WordReference entry for erreur is an excellent place to start!

I hope you found this article helpful in navigating the vocabulary around 'mistakes' in French. As the French proverb goes, C'est en forgeant qu'on devient forgeron (It's by forging that one becomes a blacksmith), meaning practice makes perfect – and making mistakes is part of the learning process!

9 ways to say "mistake" in French