Sem Querer vs. De Propósito: Accidental or on Purpose?
Sem querer means unintentionally or by accident; de propósito means on purpose. Learn where to place each phrase in a sentence.
Real Life Portuguese · 4 min read · Updated October 14, 2026
The short answer
Sem querer means by accident, unintentionally, or without meaning to. Use it when an action happened but was not the person’s plan. It can appear before or after the verb, depending on emphasis.
Use sem querer for an unintentional action
De propósito means on purpose or deliberately. These phrases can change how a listener interprets the same action, so state which one you mean when responsibility or intent matters.
Derrubei o copo sem querer.
I knocked over the glass by accident.
Você fez isso de propósito?
Did you do that on purpose?
Apaguei o arquivo sem querer e preciso recuperá-lo.
I deleted the file by accident and need to recover it.
Place the phrase near the action it describes
Both expressions can come at the end of a sentence for a natural explanation: esqueci sem querer (I forgot unintentionally) or fiz de propósito (I did it intentionally). You can also put them before the verb when contrasting the intention.
Sem intenção is a more formal way to express lack of intention. Intencionalmente or propositalmente can mean deliberately, but de propósito is usually simpler in everyday conversation.
Não fechei a janela de propósito; achei que você queria ar fresco.
I didn’t close the window on purpose; I thought you wanted fresh air.
Ela esbarrou em mim sem querer.
She bumped into me accidentally.
O atraso foi intencional.
The delay was intentional.
Put it into practice
Use sem querer for an accident and de propósito for an intentional action; place either phrase near the verb it explains.
Quick practice
Which Portuguese example matches “Did you do that on purpose”?
Choose an answer to check yourself.
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