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σφάλμα
error /ˈsfalma/
nounC1#3050 most common
Also: mistake, fault, flaw
Example sentences
Έκανα ένα σφάλμα.
I made an error.
Το σφάλμα ήταν δικό μου.
The error was mine.
Ο υπολογιστής εμφάνισε ένα σφάλμα.
The computer displayed an error.
Πρέπει να διορθώσουμε αυτό το σφάλμα πριν την παρουσίαση.
We must fix this error before the presentation.
Το ανθρώπινο σφάλμα ήταν η κύρια αιτία του ατυχήματος.
Human error was the main cause of the accident.
Η ανάλυση αποκάλυψε ένα συστηματικό σφάλμα στη μεθοδολογία της έρευνας.
The analysis revealed a systematic error in the research methodology.
Declension
| Case | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | σφάλμα | σφάλματα |
| Genitive | σφάλματος | σφαλμάτων |
| Accusative | σφάλμα | σφάλματα |
| Vocative | σφάλμα | σφάλματα |
Word family
σφάλλωto err, to trip
σφαλερόςslippery, risky
ασφάλειαsafety, securityασφαλήςsafeδιασφαλίζωto ensure, to safeguard
Etymology
Σφάλμα comes from the verb σφάλλω, which meant to trip someone, make them stumble, or cause them to fail. The suffix -μα turns a verb into a noun naming the result of the action, so σφάλμα is literally the outcome of a stumble or a failed step. Over time the word narrowed to mean a mistake or error in a general sense. The deeper origin of σφάλλω itself is not securely established, so no confirmed root beyond Greek can be given here.
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