How to Say "chance" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “chance” is “suerte” — use this word when referring to good or bad fortune, luck, or a random favorable outcome.
suerte
SWER-tehˈsweɾ.te
Examples
¡Te deseo mucha suerte en tu examen!
I wish you lots of luck on your exam!
¡Te deseo mucha suerte!
I wish you lots of luck!
¡Qué mala suerte que perdimos el tren!
What bad luck that we missed the train!
Tuvimos la suerte de conseguir una mesa sin reserva.
We had the good fortune of getting a table without a reservation.
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'.
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.
casualidad
kah-soo-ah-lee-DADHkaswaliˈðað
Examples
¡Qué casualidad! Te encontré en el supermercado.
What a coincidence! I ran into you at the supermarket.
¡Qué casualidad! Estaba pensando en ti.
What a coincidence! I was just thinking about you.
Encontré las llaves perdidas por pura casualidad.
I found the lost keys purely by chance.
Si ves a mi hermano, ¿podrías decirle que me llame? Solo si es casualidad.
If you see my brother, could you tell him to call me? Only if it’s by chance.
The 'By Chance' Expression
To say that something happened 'by chance' or 'accidentally,' always use the fixed expression 'por casualidad.' This is a key phrase to memorize.
Casualidad vs. Accidente
Mistake: “Using 'casualidad' to mean a car crash or a physical injury.”
Correction: Use 'accidente' for crashes or physical mishaps. 'Casualidad' refers only to an unpredicted event or coincidence: 'Tuvimos un accidente de coche' (We had a car accident).
oportunidad
o-por-tu-ni-DADopoɾtuniˈðað
Examples
Esta es una gran oportunidad para aprender.
This is a great opportunity to learn.
Esta es una gran oportunidad para practicar tu español.
This is a great opportunity to practice your Spanish.
No dejes pasar la oportunidad de viajar por el mundo.
Don't let the chance to travel the world pass you by.
Si me dan la oportunidad, demostraré que puedo hacerlo.
If they give me the opportunity, I will prove I can do it.
Always Feminine: 'la' oportunidad
Even though it doesn't end in '-a', 'oportunidad' is a feminine word. So, you always say 'la oportunidad' (the opportunity) or 'una oportunidad' (an opportunity).
Using 'de' vs. 'para'
Mistake: “Tengo una oportunidad por ganar el premio.”
Correction: Say 'Tengo una oportunidad de ganar el premio.' Use 'de' + a verb in its base form (like 'ganar') to say 'opportunity to do something'. Use 'para' to talk about the purpose or goal, often with a noun: 'Es una oportunidad para el cambio' (It's an opportunity for change).
posibilidad
poh-see-bee-lee-DAHDposiβiliˈðað
Examples
Existe la posibilidad de que llueva mañana.
There is a possibility of rain tomorrow.
¿Hay alguna posibilidad de que vengas mañana?
Is there any possibility that you will come tomorrow?
Exploramos todas las posibilidades antes de decidir la ruta.
We explored all the possibilities before deciding the route.
La posibilidad de que gane la lotería es remota, pero existe.
The chance that I win the lottery is remote, but it exists.
Using 'de'
Use the small word 'de' (of) to connect 'posibilidad' to the action or thing being discussed: 'la posibilidad de viajar' (the possibility of traveling).
Feminine Noun Rule
Remember that almost all Spanish words ending in -dad, like 'posibilidad,' are feminine and take the article 'la' or 'una'.
Gender Error
Mistake: “El posibilidad de ir...”
Correction: La posibilidad de ir... 'Posibilidad' is always feminine.
Subjunctive Following Uncertainty
Mistake: “Hay una posibilidad que llueve.”
Correction: Hay una posibilidad de que llueva. When expressing possibility or uncertainty, the following verb often uses a special form (the subjunctive, used here as 'llueva').
fortuna
for-TOO-nahfoɾˈtuna
Examples
Tuvo la fortuna de heredar una gran suma de dinero.
He had the good fortune to inherit a large sum of money.
Tuve la fortuna de encontrar mi cartera en el parque.
I had the good fortune (luck) to find my wallet in the park.
La fortuna le sonrió y ganó la lotería.
Fortune smiled on him and he won the lottery.
Por fortuna, llegamos justo antes de que cerraran.
Luckily, we arrived just before they closed.
Always Feminine
Since 'fortuna' ends in '-a' and describes a non-gendered concept, it is always a feminine noun and uses 'la' or 'una'.
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'.
azar
ah-SAHR/ or /ah-THARaˈθaɾ
Examples
El resultado del partido fue pura cuestión de azar.
The outcome of the game was a matter of pure chance.
La lotería depende del puro azar.
The lottery depends on pure chance.
Encontré mi viejo libro por azar en la librería.
I found my old book by chance in the bookstore.
Elegimos el ganador al azar de entre todos los participantes.
We chose the winner at random from all the participants.
Always Masculine
Even though it ends in 'r', 'azar' is always a masculine noun, meaning you must use the article 'el' (el azar).
Confusing 'al azar' and 'por azar'
Mistake: “Using 'por azar' when describing the method of selection.”
Correction: Use 'al azar' (at random) to describe the *way* something is chosen (e.g., 'Lo elegí al azar'). Use 'por azar' (by chance) to describe *why* something happened (e.g., 'Nos encontramos por azar').
casual
ka-SWALkaˈswal
Examples
Fue un encuentro casual en el café.
It was a chance encounter at the café.
Fue un encuentro casual en la biblioteca.
It was a chance meeting at the library.
No tengo un plan, es solo una observación casual.
I don't have a plan, it's just a casual observation.
El éxito no fue casual, trabajaron mucho.
The success wasn't accidental; they worked hard.
One size fits all
This word is the same whether you are describing a 'boy' word (masculine) or a 'girl' word (feminine). You don't need to change the ending to 'o' or 'a'.
Making it plural
Since the word ends in a consonant (L), you just add '-es' to make it plural: 'encuentros casuales'.
Casual vs. Casualidad
Mistake: “Use 'es un casual' to say 'it is a coincidence'.”
Correction: Say 'es una casualidad'. 'Casual' describes a thing (an adjective), while 'casualidad' is the noun for the event itself.
probabilidad
pro-bah-bee-lee-DAHDpɾoβaβiliˈðad
Examples
La probabilidad de ganar la lotería es muy baja.
The probability of winning the lottery is very low.
Hay una alta probabilidad de lluvia esta tarde.
There is a high probability of rain this afternoon.
No veo ninguna probabilidad de éxito en este plan.
I don't see any chance of success in this plan.
Existe la probabilidad de que el examen sea difícil.
There is a likelihood that the exam will be difficult.
Always Feminine
Spanish nouns ending in -dad are almost always feminine. Use 'la' or 'una' with this word.
Using 'que'
When you follow this word with 'de que' and a verb, the second verb usually changes its form to show uncertainty (this is the 'subjunctive' form), like in: 'la probabilidad de que venga' (the probability that he comes).
Gender Error
Mistake: “el probabilidad”
Correction: la probabilidad (because nouns ending in -dad are feminine).
ocasión
Examples
Si tengo ocasión, te visitaré.
If I get the chance, I will visit you.
accidente
ak-see-DEN-tayak.siˈðen.te
Examples
Nuestro encuentro fue un accidente del destino.
Our meeting was an accident of fate.
Nuestro encuentro no fue planeado, fue un simple accidente del destino.
Our meeting wasn't planned, it was a simple accident of fate.
En la filosofía, se distingue entre la esencia y el accidente.
In philosophy, a distinction is made between essence and accident (a non-essential property).
ventura
ben-TOO-rahbenˈtuɾa
Examples
Le deseo toda la ventura en sus proyectos.
I wish you all the good fortune in your projects.
Le deseo toda la ventura en su nuevo camino.
I wish you all the luck on your new path.
Por ventura, encontramos el camino de regreso antes de que anocheciera.
By chance, we found the way back before it got dark.
La buena ventura no siempre acompaña al que más trabaja.
Good fortune does not always accompany the one who works the hardest.
Always Feminine
This word is always feminine, so you must use 'la' or 'una' with it, even though it ends in 'a' like many other feminine words.
Using 'Por' with Ventura
When you put 'por' in front of 'ventura', it turns into an adverbial phrase meaning 'by chance' or 'accidentally'.
Ventura vs. Aventura
Mistake: “Using 'ventura' to mean an exciting trip or experience.”
Correction: Use 'aventura' for an adventure. 'Ventura' is specifically about luck or happiness.
acaso
ah-CAH-sohaˈkaso
Examples
Todo ocurrió por acaso, no fue planeado.
Everything happened by chance, it wasn't planned.
Todo fue obra del acaso, no de la planeación.
Everything was the work of chance, not planning.
Si lo consigues, será por acaso.
If you get it, it will be by chance.
Fixed Phrase
The most common way to use 'acaso' as a noun is in the prepositional phrase 'por acaso', meaning 'by chance' or 'accidentally'. (Note: This is often replaced by 'por casualidad').
Chance vs. Opportunity
Related Translations
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