Inklingo

How to Say "luck" in Spanish

English → Spanish

suerte

/SWER-teh//ˈsweɾ.te/

nounA1general
Use 'suerte' for general luck, fortune, or when wishing someone well, as it's the most common and versatile translation.
A vibrant illustration of a lucky charm, like a four-leaf clover, glowing brightly against a simple background.

Examples

¡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/

nounA2general
Use 'fortuna' when referring specifically to good luck or a fortunate event, often implying a positive outcome.
A bright green, perfect four-leaf clover centered on a lush background, symbolizing good luck.

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.

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-THAR//aˈθaɾ/

nounB1general
Use 'azar' to talk about random chance, fate, or unpredictability, especially when there's no discernible reason for an outcome.
A brightly colored storybook illustration showing a large six-sided die frozen mid-roll in the air just before landing, symbolizing chance.

Examples

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').

Choosing Between 'Suerte' and 'Fortuna'

Learners often confuse 'suerte' and 'fortuna'. Remember that while 'suerte' is the go-to for general luck, 'fortuna' specifically highlights *good* fortune or a positive outcome. If you're simply wishing someone well, use 'suerte'.

Related Translations

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