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accidente

accident

noun ahk-see-DEHN-teh Less Common
Body & Health Health & Illness

Origin: From Latin accidentem ('a chance event'), from accidere ('to happen, to fall').

Also means

mishap

Usage Note

Accidente covers a traffic accident (accidente de tráfico/tránsito), a workplace accident (accidente laboral), and a geographical feature (accidente geográfico = 'geographical feature, landform'). Note the SESEO pronunciation: the c before i is /s/, not /th/. The adjective accidental means both 'accidental' and 'incidental'. Do not confuse accidente with incidente ('incident'), which implies a dispute or disturbance rather than an unintended mishap.

Examples

"Hubo un accidente grave en la autopista."

Natural Translation

There was a serious accident on the highway.

Literal Translation

There-was a accident serious on the highway

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