erro

Erro is the Portuguese noun for a mistake or deviation from an expected standard of accuracy. The term derives from Latin error, passing through earlier Romance languages, and is used across domains to denote an incorrect result, judgment, or action. The related verb is errar, meaning to make a mistake, while adjectives such as incorreto or errado describe something that is wrong.

In everyday usage, erro refers to miscalculations, faulty reasoning, or imperfect execution. It is distinct from engano, which emphasizes deception or a mistaken belief, and from falha, which more often implies a fault or breakdown in a system or process. In formal writing, erro can describe human fault, procedural missteps, or measurement inaccuracy.

In science and measurement, common distinctions include erro aleatório (random error), que tends to vary unpredictably, and erro sistemático (systematic error), which biases results in a consistent direction. Other related concepts are erro de amostra (sampling error) and erro de medição (measurement error). Quantitative fields often quantify errors to express confidence or reliability in results.

In computing and technology, erro denotes an abnormal condition or exception that interrupts normal operation. Terms such as runtime error, logic error, or syntax error are translated as erro in many interfaces. Software development also uses the phrase tratamento de erros (error handling) and código de erro (error code) to communicate problems and guide responses.

Philosophically, erro is tied to epistemic fallibility—the recognition that beliefs or methods may be imperfect. Across cultures, acknowledging erro underpins learning, correction, and progress by revealing where assumptions diverge from reality.