How to Say "fortune" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “fortune” is “suerte” — use 'suerte' when referring to luck, chance, or the outcome of events, both positive and negative..
suerte
/SWER-teh//ˈsweɾ.te/
Examples
¡Te deseo mucha suerte en tu nuevo trabajo!
I wish you lots of luck in your new job!
¡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.
fortuna
for-TOO-nah/foɾˈtuna/
Examples
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.
El empresario amasó una gran fortuna vendiendo tecnología.
The businessman amassed a great fortune selling technology.
Always Feminine
Since 'fortuna' ends in '-a' and describes a non-gendered concept, it is always a feminine noun and uses 'la' or 'una'.
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.
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'.
fortuna
for-TOO-nah/foɾˈtuna/
Examples
El empresario amasó una gran fortuna vendiendo tecnología.
The businessman amassed a great fortune selling technology.
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'.
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.
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'.
riqueza
ree-KEH-sah/riˈke.θa/
Examples
La familia construyó su riqueza a través de la inversión inmobiliaria.
The family built their wealth through real estate investment.
No todo es la riqueza material; la felicidad es más importante.
It's not all about material riches; happiness is more important.
El país tiene una gran riqueza en recursos naturales.
The country has great wealth in natural resources.
Feminine Noun Rule
Even though 'riqueza' ends in -a, remember it is always feminine, so you must use 'la riqueza' or 'una riqueza'.
riñón
Examples
Ese coche deportivo costó un riñón, ¿verdad?
That sports car cost an arm and a leg, didn't it?
Fortuna vs. Suerte
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