accidente

/akˈθidente/
nounIntermediate
general

An unexpected event, typically sudden and with negative consequences, such as a crash, collision, or mishap.

Hubo un accidente en la carretera anoche.

There was an accident on the road last night.

El accidente le dejó con graves lesiones.

The accident left him with serious injuries.

💡

In Spanish, 'accidente' can refer to any type of mishap, not just vehicular incidents.

⚙️Engineering
technical

An event or occurrence that happens unexpectedly and disrupts normal operations, often in a technical or industrial context.

El accidente en la planta causó una parada temporal.

The accident at the plant caused a temporary shutdown.

💡

In engineering, 'accidente' may refer to equipment failure or operational disruptions.

Collocations

accidente de tráficotraffic accidentaccidente laboralworkplace accidentaccidente aéreoair accident

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related Phrases

por accidentephrase
by accident

💡Pro Tip

Common Usage

'Accidente' is a neutral term, but 'siniestro' is often used for more severe events, especially in insurance contexts.

Gold Rule

Legal Context

In legal documents, 'accidente' may refer to events requiring liability assessment or compensation claims.

📖Word Origin

From Latin 'accidens', meaning 'that which happens' or 'incident'.

📝Usage Notes

In Spanish, 'accidente' is often used in legal and insurance contexts to describe events requiring compensation or investigation.

Word Breakdown

ac-
to, toward
prefix
+
-cid-
fall, happen
root
+
-ente
agent or result
suffix
Noted on May 2, 2026ESEN