Quick answer
An acidente foregrounds unintended harm. An incidente names an event or problem without automatically defining its severity.
A reliable test is to identify the job of the word before translating from English.
Learn Brazilian Portuguese step by step
Create your account to continue with this topic in Falando.
Free account. A1 lessons included.
What each word does
acidente
accident
Use acidente for an unplanned event that causes or risks injury, damage, or loss.
incidente
incident
Use incidente for a distinct event, problem, or episode, often less severe or described neutrally.
How to choose
- acidente: Choose acidente if the sentence points to an unplanned event that causes or risks injury, damage, or loss.
- incidente: Choose incidente if the sentence points to a distinct event, problem, or episode, often less severe or described neutrally.
Examples
O acidente bloqueou a rodovia.
The accident blocked the highway.
A empresa investigou o incidente.
The company investigated the incident.
Common trap
Journalists and organizations may use incidente cautiously before the cause or damage is known. It is not simply a smaller acidente in every context.
Practice it in context
Pick one sentence from your real life and write it twice: once with acidente, then once with incidente. If both versions feel possible, name the meaning shift.
Learn Brazilian Portuguese step by step
Create your account to continue with this topic in Falando.
Free account. A1 lessons included.