المعنى
Committing an error.
خلفية ثقافية
The Dutch use diminutives for almost everything to make it 'gezellig' (cozy/nice). Even a mistake becomes 'gezellig' when it's a 'foutje'. In Dutch offices, admitting a 'foutje' early is highly valued. It shows honesty and allows the team to fix it quickly without hierarchy getting in the way. In Flanders, 'foutje' is also used, but they might more often use 'vergissing' in slightly more formal contexts than the Dutch do. There is a popular educational movement in the Netherlands called 'Fouten maken mag' (Making mistakes is allowed), encouraging a growth mindset in kids.
The Power of -je
If you are nervous about an error, always add '-je'. It makes people more likely to forgive you immediately.
Don't 'Do' Mistakes
Never say 'foutje doen'. It's the #1 giveaway that you are translating from English.
المعنى
Committing an error.
The Power of -je
If you are nervous about an error, always add '-je'. It makes people more likely to forgive you immediately.
Don't 'Do' Mistakes
Never say 'foutje doen'. It's the #1 giveaway that you are translating from English.
Foutje Bedankt!
Use this specific phrase to sound like a local when you make a silly, harmless mistake.
اختبر نفسك
Which verb is correct with 'foutje'?
Ik ___ een foutje.
In Dutch, we always 'make' (maken) a mistake.
Fill in the missing word to make the mistake sound small.
Sorry, ik heb een ___ gemaakt.
'Foutje' is the most common way to say 'small mistake'.
Complete the dialogue.
A: De koffie is koud! B: Oeps, ___!
'Foutje bedankt' is a common, slightly funny way to apologize for a small error.
Match the phrase to the situation.
You sent an email to the wrong person.
Sending an email to the wrong person is a classic 'foutje'.
🎉 النتيجة: /4
وسائل تعلم بصرية
بنك التمارين
4 تمارينIk ___ een foutje.
In Dutch, we always 'make' (maken) a mistake.
Sorry, ik heb een ___ gemaakt.
'Foutje' is the most common way to say 'small mistake'.
A: De koffie is koud! B: Oeps, ___!
'Foutje bedankt' is a common, slightly funny way to apologize for a small error.
You sent an email to the wrong person.
Sending an email to the wrong person is a classic 'foutje'.
🎉 النتيجة: /4
الأسئلة الشائعة
10 أسئلةOnly if the mistake is very minor and you have a good relationship with the person. Otherwise, use 'een kleine vergissing'.
No, you can say 'foutjes' (plural). 'Ik maak veel foutjes.'
'Fout' is a general mistake. 'Foutje' is specifically a small, minor mistake.
It's a famous slogan from an insurance commercial that became a humorous way to acknowledge a mistake.
No, you must say 'Ik heb een foutje *gemaakt*'.
It is always 'het foutje' because all diminutives are 'het' words.
Only if it's a tiny scratch. If the car is totaled, 'foutje' would be very inappropriate.
Yes, programmers often call a small bug a 'foutje in de code'.
Yes, it is common in Flanders as well.
It's a 'y' sound, like in 'yes'.
عبارات ذات صلة
zich vergissen
synonymto be mistaken
een blunder begaan
specialized formto make a big, embarrassing mistake
een misstap maken
similarto make a false step / social error
ernaast zitten
informalto be wrong about something
een schoonheidsfoutje
specialized forma minor flaw
