sbaglio

Sbaglio is an Italian noun that denotes a mistake, error, or miscalculation. It can refer to a wrong action, a flawed decision, a misunderstanding, or a mistaken assumption. The term is widely used in both spoken and written Italian and often carries a sense of a fault that is unintentional and repairable.

Etymology and forms: sbaglio derives from the verb sbagliare, meaning to err. Related forms include sbagliato (adjective meaning incorrect or mistaken), sbagliando (gerund, “making a mistake” or “in a mistaken way”), and sbagliarsi (to be mistaken).

Usage: Sbaglio is commonly expressed through phrases such as fare uno sbaglio (to make a mistake) or commettere uno sbaglio (to commit a mistake). It can also describe specific errors, for example sbaglio di calcolo (calculation error) or sbaglio di percezione (perceptual mistake). In formal contexts, it may be replaced by errori or errori di misurazione for precision, but sbaglio remains common in everyday language.

Distinctions: While sbaglio and errore are often synonymous, sbaglio frequently implies a slip or misjudgment rather than a rigid, technical fault. Errore is more standard in technical, scientific, or legal language. Sbagliato and sbagliando function as adjectives and adverbs related to wrongdoing or incorrectness.

Translations: In English, sbaglio is most often translated as mistake or error, depending on context. It appears in discussions of everyday faults as well as more formal assessments of inaccuracies.