Inklingo
← Dictionary
A high-quality simple colorful storybook illustration showing two distinct characters, one wearing a green hat and the other a blue scarf, looking surprised as they unexpectedly bump shoulders while walking on a path, symbolizing a coincidence.

casualidad

kah-soo-ah-lee-DADH

nounfA2
coincidence?An unexpected meeting or event.,chance?The lack of planning or intention.
Also:fluke?A surprising stroke of luck.,accident?A non-intentional event (not a physical crash).

📝 In Action

¡Qué casualidad! Estaba pensando en ti.

A2

What a coincidence! I was just thinking about you.

Encontré las llaves perdidas por pura casualidad.

B1

I found the lost keys purely by chance.

Si ves a mi hermano, ¿podrías decirle que me llame? Solo si es casualidad.

B2

If you see my brother, could you tell him to call me? Only if it’s by chance.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

  • intención (intention)
  • propósito (purpose)

Common Collocations

  • por casualidad – by chance / accidentally
  • pura casualidad – pure coincidence

Idioms & Expressions

  • Dejar algo a la casualidad – To leave something to fate or chance; not to plan it.

💡 Grammar Points

The 'By Chance' Expression

To say that something happened 'by chance' or 'accidentally,' always use the fixed expression 'por casualidad.' This is a key phrase to memorize.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Casualidad vs. Accidente

Mistake: "Using 'casualidad' to mean a car crash or a physical injury."

Correction: Use 'accidente' for crashes or physical mishaps. 'Casualidad' refers only to an unpredicted event or coincidence: 'Tuvimos un accidente de coche' (We had a car accident).

⭐ Usage Tips

Expressing Surprise

The phrase '¡Qué casualidad!' is the most common way to express surprise when you encounter someone or something unexpectedly. It’s like saying 'What a small world!'

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: casualidad

Question 1 of 1

How would you ask if someone found something without looking for it?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

casual(casual, accidental (adjective)) - adjective
casualmente(casually, accidentally (adverb)) - adverb

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'casualidad' the same as 'luck'?

Not exactly. 'Casualidad' is the unexpected event itself (a coincidence). 'Luck' is 'suerte' and refers to the good or bad fortune resulting from the event. You can have a 'casualidad' (a chance meeting) that results in good 'suerte' (good luck).

Can I use 'casualidad' to describe someone's clothes?

No. When describing informal clothing, Spanish uses the adjective 'casual' (e.g., ropa casual). 'Casualidad' only refers to the concept of chance or coincidence.