fout

Fout is a Dutch noun that denotes an error, mistake, or fault. It is used to describe something that deviates from correctness, truth, or a set standard. In everyday language it appears in phrases such as “een fout maken” (to make a mistake) and in technical contexts as “foutmelding” (an error message).

Etymology and scope: The word traces back to Old French faute, meaning fault or blame, and entered Dutch through Middle Dutch usage. Related terms in other Germanic languages reflect the same core idea of deficiency, error, or defect. In modern Dutch, fout covers a broad range of meanings from simple slips to more technical faults.

Usage across domains: In computing and information technology, fout refers to errors in software or data, as in foutmelding or foutopsporing (error detection). In data quality, foutieve gegevens describe incorrect or faulty data. In sports, a fout can refer to a foul or a mistake committed by a player. In music, a fout can denote a wrong note or a wrong musical event, with common expressions such as “foute noot.” The term also appears in everyday descriptions of flawed systems or processes.

Morphology and compounds: Dutch forms related to fout include fouten (plural), foutje (a small or cute fault), and numerous compounds such as foutmelding, foutoplossing, and foutanalyse, which describe specific kinds of errors or methods for addressing them.

Other uses: Fout can function as a surname in Dutch-speaking regions and may appear in place names or product names derived from the concept of fault or error, though such uses are less common.

See also: English fault, French faute, German Fehler.