vahingossa

Vahingossa is a Finnish adverb meaning "accidentally" or "inadvertently," used to indicate that an action was not intentional. It typically accompanies a verb, as in Hän rikkoi vahingossa lasinsa (He accidentally broke his glass) or Tein sen vahingossa (I did it by accident). It can also modify a clause, for example Vahingossa tehty virhe is a commonly used noun phrase in reference to an unintentional error.

Etymology: The word comes from vahinko, meaning "accident" or "damage," with the inessive suffix -ssa, producing a sense of "in an accident" or "by accident." This construction is common in Finnish to form adverbs that describe manner of action.

Usage notes: vahingossa expresses lack of intentionality and is neutral in tone, suitable for both spoken and written Finnish. In more formal or precise contexts, speakers may prefer tahattomasti (unintentionally) or phrases like vahingon vuoksi (due to an accident/without intent) to emphasize different nuances. Unlike phrases that describe intent, vahingossa cannot imply deliberation or planning.

Examples:

- Hän rikkoi vahingossa lasinsa. (He accidentally broke his glass.)

- Tein sen vahingossa. (I did it by accident.)

- Vahingossa jätin avaimet kotiin. (I left the keys at home by accident.)

See also: vahinko, vahingonkorvaus.