accidente
/ak-see-DEN-tay/
accident
The most common meaning of accidente is a mishap or crash, often referring to a traffic accident (accidente de tráfico).
accidente(Noun)
accident
?mishap, crash, unfortunate event
crash
?specifically for vehicles
,mishap
?a minor unfortunate event
📝 In Action
Tuve un pequeño accidente en la cocina y me quemé la mano.
A2I had a little accident in the kitchen and burned my hand.
El tráfico está terrible por un accidente en la autopista.
B1The traffic is terrible because of an accident on the highway.
Fue un accidente, no lo hizo a propósito.
B1It was an accident, he didn't do it on purpose.
💡 Grammar Points
It's a Masculine Word
Even though 'accidente' ends in '-e', it's a masculine word. Always say 'el accidente' or 'un accidente'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
'Tener' vs. 'Sufrir'
Mistake: "You can say 'tener un accidente' (to have an accident), which is very common. But for more serious events, you might hear 'sufrir un accidente'."
Correction: 'Sufrir un accidente' adds a sense of seriousness, like saying 'to suffer an accident'. Example: 'Sufrió un grave accidente.' (He suffered a serious accident.)
⭐ Usage Tips
Saying 'By Accident'
To express that something happened by accident or accidentally, the phrase you need is 'por accidente'. For example, 'Rompí el vaso por accidente' means 'I broke the glass by accident'.
Accidente can formally refer to a coincidence or an unplanned event, suggesting a chance encounter or fate.
accidente(Noun)
chance
?unplanned event, coincidence
coincidence
?a remarkable concurrence of events
,fluke
?an unlikely chance occurrence
📝 In Action
Nuestro encuentro no fue planeado, fue un simple accidente del destino.
B2Our meeting wasn't planned, it was a simple accident of fate.
En la filosofía, se distingue entre la esencia y el accidente.
C1In philosophy, a distinction is made between essence and accident (a non-essential property).
⭐ Usage Tips
Formal and Abstract
This meaning is almost always used to talk about ideas, not physical events. It's about whether something is fundamental (essence) or just happens to be that way (accident).
In geography, accidente (as in accidente geográfico) refers to a distinct landform or feature, such as a mountain or valley.
📝 In Action
Mi abuelo sufrió un accidente cerebrovascular el año pasado.
C1My grandfather suffered a cerebrovascular accident (a stroke) last year.
El guía nos señaló los principales accidentes geográficos del valle.
B2The guide pointed out the main geographical features of the valley.
⭐ Usage Tips
Look for the Second Word
This meaning of 'accidente' almost always comes with another word that specifies the context, like 'cerebrovascular' (related to the brain) or 'geográfico' (geographical).
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: accidente
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'accidente' to mean a 'mishap' or 'crash'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between 'accidente' and 'incidente'?
They are similar, but 'accidente' usually implies something negative, often with damage or injury (like a car crash). An 'incidente' is a more general term for any event or occurrence, which could be minor or neutral. For example, a disagreement at work is an 'incidente', not usually an 'accidente'.
How do I say 'I had an accident' in Spanish?
The most common way is 'Tuve un accidente'. You can also use the reflexive verb 'Me accidenté', which means something like 'I got into an accident'.