tener un accidente
/teneɾ un aɡθidente/from spelling rules
To get into an accident in Spanish, you say tener un accidente.
If you wish to be more formal, you can use sufrir un accidente to emphasize the experience of going through an accident or involucrarse en un accidente to convey the idea of being involved in an accident. For a mishap or a minor accident, the formal expression tener un percance is appropriate.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase tener un accidente is literally translated as 'to have an accident'.
Which one should you use?
While tener un accidente is a general way to say one was in an accident, the verb chocar specifically refers to the act of colliding or crashing vehicles.
How do you pronounce it?
/teneɾ un aɡθidente/
Did you know?
- In many Spanish-speaking countries, the word choque is used not just for car crashes but also to describe a 'clash' of personalities or opinions.
- The verb tener in tener un accidente shares a root with the English word 'tenacious'. Both come from the Latin tenēre, meaning 'to hold'.
- While tener un accidente is common, some regions use dar un golpe to describe a minor fender-bender, literally meaning 'to give a blow'.
Examples in context
- Tuve un accidente en la carreteraI got into an accident on the highway
- Sufrió un accidente automovilísticoHe/she suffered a car accident
- Me involucré en un accidente de tráficoI got involved in a traffic accident
- Tuve un percance mientras estacionaba el cocheI had a mishap while parking the car
- Tuve un choque en la intersecciónI had a crash at the intersection
- Tuve un accidente de coche ayerI had a car accident yesterday
- Me estrellé contra un árbolI crashed into a tree
- Tuve un accidente en la autopistaI had an accident on the highway
- Tuve un accidente con un ciclistaI had an accident with a cyclist
- Tuve un accidente de coche esta mañana.I had a car accident this morning.
- Espero que no vayas a tener un accidente.I hope you are not going to get into an accident.
- ¿Cómo pudiste tener un accidente tan grave?How could you get into such a serious accident?
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries accidente, tener, un, CC BY-SA 4.0.
