por engano

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by mistake, accidentally
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Portuguese
/poɾ ẽˈɡɐ.nu/
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By mistake; unintentionally because of a mix-up.
Practice using por engano in conversation until it feels natural

Examples

  • Peguei o casaco dela por engano.
    I took her coat by mistake.
  • Enviei a mensagem por engano.
    I sent the message by mistake.
  • O pacote chegou aqui por engano.
    The parcel arrived here by mistake.
  • Entrei na sala errada por engano.
    I entered the wrong room by mistake.
  • Ela apagou o arquivo por engano.
    She deleted the file by mistake.

Similar words

sem querer
por erro

Meanings

Unintended error

communication
neutral
Explains that an action happened because someone made an error, not a deliberate choice.

Examples

  • Enviei a mensagem por engano.
    I sent the message by mistake.
  • Peguei o casaco dela por engano.
    I took her coat by mistake.
  • O pacote chegou aqui por engano.
    The parcel arrived here by mistake.
  • Ela apagou o arquivo por engano.
    She deleted the file by mistake.
  • Entrei na sala errada por engano.
    I entered the wrong room by mistake.

Similar words

por erro
sem querer

Etymology

Engano means mistake; por introduces its cause.

FAQ

What does por engano mean?

By mistake; unintentionally because of a mix-up.

Does it imply intention?

No, the action was unintended.

Can it explain a wrong message?

Yes: enviei a mensagem por engano.

What is a useful opposite?

De propósito means on purpose.

How is por engano pronounced?

The reference pronunciation is /poɾ ẽˈɡɐ.nu/.

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