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suerte

SWER-tehˈsweɾ.te

“suerte” means “luck” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

luck

Also: fortune, chance, fate
NounfA1
A vibrant illustration of a lucky charm, like a four-leaf clover, glowing brightly against a simple background.

📝 In Action

¡Te deseo mucha suerte!

A1

I wish you lots of luck!

¡Qué mala suerte que perdimos el tren!

A2

What bad luck that we missed the train!

Tuvimos la suerte de conseguir una mesa sin reserva.

B1

We had the good fortune of getting a table without a reservation.

No puedes cambiar tu suerte, solo aceptarla.

B2

You can't change your fate, only accept it.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

  • desgracia (misfortune)
  • infortunio (misfortune)

Common Collocations

  • tener suerte – to be lucky (lit. to have luck)
  • dar suerte – to bring luck
  • mala suerte – bad luck
  • por suerte – luckily, fortunately
  • golpe de suerte – a stroke of luck

Idioms & Expressions

  • probar suerte – to try one's luck
  • suerte de principiante – beginner's luck
  • dejar algo a la suerte – to leave something to chance

manner

Also: sort, kind
NounfB2formal
An illustration showing several distinct types of stylized objects neatly organized in separate, clearly defined groups, indicating different manners or sorts.

📝 In Action

De esta suerte, conseguimos resolver el conflicto pacíficamente.

B2

In this manner, we managed to resolve the conflict peacefully.

El autor describe toda suerte de personajes en su novela.

C1

The author describes all sorts of characters in his novel.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Common Collocations

  • de esta suerte – in this manner, thus
  • de tal suerte que – in such a way that
  • toda suerte de – all sorts of

🔀 Commonly Confused With

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "suerte" in Spanish:

chance→fate→fortune→kind→luck→manner→sort→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: suerte

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence correctly says 'You are very lucky'?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

Comes from the Latin word 'sors' (genitive 'sortis'), which meant 'lot, share, fortune, or destiny'. It was often associated with casting lots to determine a share or an outcome.

First recorded: Around the 12th century.

Cognates (Related words)

Portuguese: sorteItalian: sorteFrench: sortEnglish: sort

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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.