Percance

Percance is a Spanish noun meaning an unforeseen event that causes trouble, loss, or delay. It covers a range from small accidents to broader misfortunes and is used in both literal and figurative senses. A typical use is to describe an incident that interrupts plans, travel, or work, without implying serious wrongdoing.

Etymology: The precise origin of percance is uncertain. The term appears in early modern Spanish and remains common across Spain and Latin America. It is generally informal or neutral in tone, often preferred in everyday speech over more formal words such as infortunio or contratiempo.

Usage: The most common construction is haber or ocurrir un percance: "tuvo un percance en la carretera" (he had a mishap on the road). Other examples include "un percance en el viaje" (an incident during the trip) or "sin percances" (without incident). The expression can also describe difficulties in plans, schedules, or performances: "el equipo sufrió un percance en el ensayo" (the team suffered a setback in rehearsal). In many contexts, percance conveys a minor to moderate level of trouble, without implying intentional harm.