fortuna
/for-TOO-nah/
luck
Fortuna, meaning 'luck,' can refer to chance or good fortune.
📝 In Action
Tuve la fortuna de encontrar mi cartera en el parque.
A2I had the good fortune (luck) to find my wallet in the park.
La fortuna le sonrió y ganó la lotería.
B1Fortune smiled on him and he won the lottery.
Por fortuna, llegamos justo antes de que cerraran.
A2Luckily, we arrived just before they closed.
💡 Grammar Points
Always Feminine
Since 'fortuna' ends in '-a' and describes a non-gendered concept, it is always a feminine noun and uses 'la' or 'una'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using 'Por Suerte' vs. 'Por Fortuna'
Mistake: "Using 'afortunadamente' too formally in casual speech."
Correction: 'Por fortuna' is a very natural and common way to say 'luckily,' often replacing the longer adverb 'afortunadamente'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Expressing Good Fortune
The phrase 'Tuve la fortuna de...' (I had the fortune of...) is a very polite and common way to express gratitude for a positive chance encounter or event.
Fortuna also translates to 'fortune,' referring to a large amount of wealth or money.
fortuna(noun)
fortune
?large amount of money or wealth
,riches
?great wealth
vast sum
?an extremely high price
📝 In Action
El empresario amasó una gran fortuna vendiendo tecnología.
B1The businessman amassed a great fortune selling technology.
Cuesta una fortuna viajar en primera clase.
B2It costs a fortune to travel in first class.
Sus abuelos le dejaron una pequeña fortuna.
B1His grandparents left him a small fortune.
💡 Grammar Points
Context is Key
When 'fortuna' is used with verbs like 'gastar' (to spend) or 'costar' (to cost), it almost always refers to money or wealth, not luck.
⭐ Usage Tips
Expressing High Cost
To emphasize that something is incredibly expensive, simply say 'Cuesta una fortuna' (It costs a fortune). This is a very common hyperbole.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: fortuna
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'fortuna' in the sense of 'great wealth'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'fortuna' and 'suerte'?
'Suerte' is the general word for 'luck' and is very common for everyday chance (e.g., 'good luck'). 'Fortuna' can also mean 'luck,' but it often carries a stronger sense of fate, destiny, or, most commonly, a large amount of wealth. You can use them interchangeably in many contexts, but 'fortuna' feels slightly more formal or dramatic.
Is 'fortuna' always good?
No. While often assumed to mean 'good fortune,' you must specify 'mala fortuna' to mean 'bad luck.' However, when referring to wealth, it is usually just 'fortuna' (a large fortune), which is positive.