What does “aus Versehen” mean in German?

Aus Versehen is the phrase German speakers reach for constantly to mean “by accident” or “unintentionally” — built from das Versehen (“oversight/slip”), itself from the verb sich versehen (to make a mistake without noticing). It’s the default excuse for anything from a spilled drink to an awkward comment, doing the same job as English “by accident” or “I didn’t mean to.”

Two different kids use it back-to-back in this clip for two very different accidents — one apologizing for shoving someone (“das war aus Versehen”), the other shrugging off getting caught after copying a habit from their mother (“meine Mama sagt auch immer, ich war aus Versehen”). That second use is the telling one: kids pick up the excuse-phrase from adults before they even fully register they’re doing it.