coincidencia
nounCEFR B2
What does “coincidencia” mean in English?
coincidence — two or more events occurring together by chance, without causal connection
coincidence — two or more events occurring together by chance, without causal connection (no es ninguna coincidencia, por pura coincidencia)
Example sentences
No es ninguna coincidencia que el proyecto se presentara justo antes de las elecciones.
It is no coincidence that the project was presented just before the elections.
Por pura coincidencia, los dos investigadores habían llegado a la misma conclusión de forma independiente.
By pure coincidence, the two researchers had independently reached the same conclusion.
Llamarla coincidencia sería demasiado cómodo: hay un patrón sistemático que merece explicación.
Calling it a coincidence would be too convenient: there is a systematic pattern that deserves explanation.
How to use it
La coincidencia means 'coincidence' — two or more events occurring together by chance, without causal connection. Key collocations: por pura coincidencia (by pure coincidence), no es ninguna coincidencia (it is no coincidence), una mera coincidencia (a mere coincidence). At B2 it appears frequently in journalistic analysis and argumentation, often as no es casualidad / no es coincidencia que + subjunctive. Distinguish from casualidad (chance, luck as a general concept) and azar (randomness, fate).
Common mistake
Coincidencia is not 'agreement' or 'meeting of minds' — that is coincidencia de opiniones (literally 'coincidence of views') but more naturally convergencia or acuerdo. Also avoid *coincidencia as a synonym for casualidad: coincidencia is specifically two things happening at the same time/place by chance; casualidad is broader chance/luck. No es casualidad and no es coincidencia overlap in journalism but are not interchangeable.