suerte
/SWER-teh/
luck
Visualizing 'suerte' as good fortune, represented by a vibrant, glowing lucky clover.
suerte(Noun)
📝 In Action
¡Te deseo mucha suerte!
A1I wish you lots of luck!
¡Qué mala suerte que perdimos el tren!
A2What bad luck that we missed the train!
Tuvimos la suerte de conseguir una mesa sin reserva.
B1We had the good fortune of getting a table without a reservation.
No puedes cambiar tu suerte, solo aceptarla.
B2You can't change your fate, only accept it.
💡 Grammar Points
To Be Lucky = 'Tener suerte'
In Spanish, you don't 'be' lucky, you 'have' luck. Always use the verb 'tener' (to have). For example, 'Yo tengo suerte' means 'I am lucky'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Saying 'Soy suerte'
Mistake: "To say 'I am lucky', many learners translate directly and say 'Soy suerte'."
Correction: The correct way is 'Tengo suerte'. Think of luck as a thing you possess. You can also use the adjective 'suertudo/a' ('Soy suertudo'), but 'tener suerte' is far more common.
⭐ Usage Tips
Good Luck vs. Just 'Luck'
When you wish someone '¡Suerte!', it's always understood as 'Good luck!'. To talk about bad luck, you must specify by saying 'mala suerte'.
Luck vs. Fate
While 'suerte' is mostly used for everyday luck, it can also take on the deeper meaning of 'fate' or one's 'lot in life', especially in more serious or philosophical contexts. The sentence will usually make it clear which meaning is intended.
Representing the formal meaning of 'suerte' as 'manner' or 'sort', illustrated by clearly categorized groupings.
📝 In Action
De esta suerte, conseguimos resolver el conflicto pacíficamente.
B2In this manner, we managed to resolve the conflict peacefully.
El autor describe toda suerte de personajes en su novela.
C1The author describes all sorts of characters in his novel.
⭐ Usage Tips
Mainly for Writing
This meaning of 'suerte' is quite formal. You'll almost always see it in set phrases like 'de esta suerte' (in this way) or 'toda suerte de' (all kinds of). In everyday speech, it's much more common to use 'manera', 'modo', or 'tipo'.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: suerte
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly says 'You are very lucky'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between 'suerte' and 'fortuna'?
They are very similar, but 'suerte' is the common, everyday word for 'luck'. 'Fortuna' also means 'fortune' or 'luck', but it can sound a bit more formal or literary. Importantly, 'fortuna' can also mean 'a financial fortune' or 'wealth', while 'suerte' never does.
How do I wish someone good luck in Spanish?
It's simple! Just say '¡Mucha suerte!' (Lots of luck!) or just '¡Suerte!'. Both are very common and natural.