Portuguese Phrase
Alguém mandou um e‑mail para a pessoa errada.
Meaning
The sentence means that an unspecified person sent an e‑mail to the wrong recipient. It conveys a small mishap, often used when discussing a miscommunication in a professional or personal setting.
When to use
Use this phrase when you want to point out that an e‑mail was mistakenly addressed to someone who shouldn't have received it, for example in office meetings, group chats, or when apologising for a mix‑up.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Alguémmandouume-mailparaapessoaerrada
Alguém (indefinite pronoun)
Used to refer to an unspecified person; it is always singular and does not change gender.
Mandou (pretérito perfeito)
Third‑person singular of the verb *mandar* in the simple past; indicates a completed action.
Um e‑mail (noun phrase)
The article *um* agrees with the masculine noun *e‑mail* (borrowed from English).
Para (preposition)
Introduces the indirect object that receives the action; here it marks the recipient of the e‑mail.
A pessoa errada (adjective after noun)
In Portuguese the adjective *errada* follows the noun *pessoa* and must agree in gender and number.
🗨In Conversation
Alguém mandou um e‑mail para a pessoa errada?
Did someone send an email to the wrong person?
Sim, foi o João. Ele escreveu o endereço errado.
Yes, it was João. He typed the wrong address.
✕Common Mistakes
Alguém mandou um e‑mail para a pessoa errado.
The adjective must agree with the feminine noun *pessoa*; use *errada*.
Alguém mandou um e‑mail a pessoa errada.
The preposition *para* is required to indicate the recipient.
Alguém mandou uma e‑mail para a pessoa errada.
When the noun is borrowed from English, keep the article masculine (*um*). Do not change to *uma*.
↔Alternatives
Alguém enviou um e‑mail para a pessoa errada.
Someone sent an e‑mail to the wrong person.
Um e‑mail foi enviado para a pessoa errada.
An e‑mail was sent to the wrong person.
Mandaram um e‑mail para a pessoa errada.
They sent an e‑mail to the wrong person.
Cultural Tip
In Brazil, *mandar* and *enviar* are both common for “to send,” but *mandar* sounds a bit more informal. When you’re writing a professional email, you’ll often see *enviar* in the subject line (e.g., “Envio de documentos”). Also, Brazilian workplaces still rely heavily on e‑mail for official communication, so pointing out a misdirected message is a frequent conversation starter.