incidentalmente

Incidentalmente is an adverb used in Romance languages, notably Spanish, Portuguese, and their cognate forms in related varieties such as Italian (incidentemente). It generally expresses two related ideas: something happening by chance or unintentionally, and a remark added as a nonessential aside, equivalent to “by the way” or “incidentally” in English.

Etymology and form: the term derives from Latin incidentalem, from incidere “to fall upon” or to occur, combined with the adverbial suffix -mente in Spanish and Portuguese. In Italian, the cognate form incidentemente exists with a similar sense, though usage frequency can differ by language and register.

Usage and nuance: in Spanish, incidentalmente can introduce information that is not central to the main topic or narrative, and depending on context may also indicate an unintentional event, though more common verbs for “by accident” are por accidente or accidentalmente. In Portuguese, incidentalmente is used similarly, often in more formal or written contexts, and may serve to add a side note. In Italian, incidentemente fulfills a parallel role as an adverb indicating either an aside or an incidental occurrence. Across these languages, the exact sense is determined by context; the phrase may imply a marginal remark, or simply an unplanned fact.

See also: incidental, casualidad (Spanish), acaso (Portuguese), caso (Italian.

(Note: The article focuses on the lexical sense and common usage; regional preferences and register can influence how frequently incidentalmente is encountered in everyday speech.)