foutje

Foutje is a Dutch noun meaning a small mistake or error. The word is the diminutive form of fout, created with the suffix -je, and it is used mainly in informal speech to acknowledge a slip while softening the fault. Because of the diminutive, foutje often carries a conciliatory or humorous tone rather than blame.

The term covers a range of minor deviations, from typographical slips and miscalculations to small procedural glitches. Common phrases include “een foutje maken” (to make a small mistake), “dat was een foutje” (that was a small error), and “een foutje in de tekst” (a minor error in the text). In media and everyday conversation, foutje is often used to ease apologies or to downplay consequences. It contrasts with formality in fout or vergissing, which are more neutral or serious.

Geographically, foutje is widely used in the Netherlands and Belgium where Dutch is spoken. It can appear in headlines or captions intended to sound approachable, though in formal writing foutje would be avoided and fout or vergissing would be preferred.

Examples: If a spreadsheet shows incorrect totals, one might say, “Er zit een foutje in de berekening.” If a newspaper prints a typo, the correction might be framed as a small foutje.