Have you ever wondered how different languages express the concept of luck? It’s fascinating to see how cultures worldwide convey wishes of good fortune, celebrate lucky days, and even ward off bad luck.
Along the way, we’ll discover some intriguing phrases, traditions, and social media trends that bring us all a little closer.
Translations of LUCK in Different Languages:
- Abkhaz: аҳҵŃŃŃŠ° (akhzysra)
- Acehnese: nase
- Acholi: lak
- Afar: raxaan
- Afrikaans: geluk
- Albanian: fat
- Amharic: įįį«į įįµį (melkam edl)
- Arabic: ŲŲø (hazz)
- Armenian: Õ¢Õ”ÕÕæ (bakht)
- Assamese: ą¦ą¦¾ą¦ą§ą¦Æ (bhagya)
- Avar: Š±Š°ŠŗŃ (bak)
- Awadhi: ą¤ą¤æą¤øą„मत (kismat)
- Aymara: suerte
- Azerbaijani: bÉxt
- Balinese: untung
- Baluchi: ŁŲ³Ł ŲŖ (qismat)
- Bambara: sanso
- BaoulƩ: chance
- Bashkir: ŃŅ£ŃŃ (unish)
- Basque: zortea
- Batak Karo: untung
- Batak Simalungun: untung
- Batak Toba: untung
- Belarusian: ŃŠ“Š°ŃŠ° (udacha)
- Bemba: mubone
- Bengali: ą¦ą¦¾ą¦ą§ą¦Æ (bhagya)
- Betawi: untung
- Bhojpuri: ą¤ą¤æą¤øą„मत (kismat)
- Bikol: palarad
- Bosnian: sreÄa
- Breton: chaƱs
- Bulgarian: ŠŗŃŃŠ¼ŠµŃ (kasmet)
- Buryat: аз (az)
- Cantonese: éę°£ (wan hei)
- Catalan: sort
- Cebuano: suerte
- Chamorro: kasat
- Chechen: Š°Š»ŃŠ° (alcha)
- Chichewa: mwayi
- Chinese (Simplified): čæę° (yùnqƬ)
- Chinese (Traditional): éę°£ (yùnqƬ)
- Chuukese: luck
- Chuvash: ŃŠ°Š»Š°Š¼Š°ŃŠ»ÄŃ (salamatlÄh)
- Corsican: fortuna
- Crimean Tatar: baht
- Croatian: sreÄa
- Czech: Å”tÄstĆ
- Danish: held
- Dari: ŲØŲ®ŲŖ (bakht)
- Dhivehi: ŽŽ¬ŽŽ°ŽŽ¦ŽŽŖ (lethnaku)
- Dinka: lak
- Dogri: ą¤ą¤æą¤øą„मत (kismat)
- Dombe: chance
- Dutch: geluk
- Dyula: siraa
- Dzongkha: ą½ą½ą¾²ą¼ą½¤ą½²ą½¦ą¼ (bkra shis)
- English: luck
- Esperanto: bonÅanco
- Estonian: Ƶnn
- Ewe: afÉ
- Faroese: heppni
- Fijian: madigi
- Filipino: swerte
- Finnish: onni
- Fon: gbĆØ
- French: chance
- Frisian: gelok
- Friulian: fortuna
- Fulani: jamm
- Ga: afÉ
- Galician: sorte
- Georgian: įį¦įįįį (ighbali)
- German: glück
- Greek: ĻĻĻĪ· (tychi)
- Guarani: tovaka
- Gujarati: ąŖØąŖøą«ąŖ¬ (nasib)
- Haitian Creole: chans
- Hakka: éę°£ (yùnqƬ)
- Hausa: saāa
- Hawaiian: pÅmaikaāi
- Hebrew: ××× (mazal)
- Hiligaynon: swerte
- Hindi: ą¤ą¤æą¤øą„मत (kismat)
- Hmong: kev vam meej
- Hungarian: szerencse
- Hunsrik: fortuna
- Iban: tuah
- Icelandic: heppni
- Igbo: ỄtỄtỄ į»ma
- Ilocano: palarad
- Indonesian: keberuntungan
- Irish: Ɣdh
- Italian: fortuna
- Jamaican Patois: luk
- Japanese: é (un)
- Javanese: rejeki
- Jingpo: įįį¹įį¬į¬ (thandar)
- Kalaallisut: arpat
- Kannada: ą² ą²¦ą³ą²·ą³ą² (adrushta)
- Kanuri: nasara
- Kapampangan: palarad
- Kazakh: ŃÓŃŃŃŠ»ŃŠŗ (sattılyk)
- Khasi: sngewbha
- Khmer: įįįį¶į (samnang)
- Kiga: omugisha
- Kikongo: mpangi
- Kinyarwanda: amahirwe
- Kituba: nzelekio
- Kokborok: rangsit
- Komi: ŃŃŠ°ŃŃŠøŠµ (schastie)
- Konkani: ą¤Øą¤¶ą„ą¤¬ (nasib)
- Korean: ģ“ (un)
- Krio: luck
- Kurdish (Kurmanji): bahtĆ®
- Kurdish (Sorani): ŲØŪŲ®ŲŖŪŲ§Ų±Ū (baxtyarĆ®)
- Kyrgyz: ийгилик (iygilik)
- Lao: ą»ąŗąŗąŗąŗµ (sok di)
- Latgalian: laime
- Latin: fortuna
- Latvian: veiksme
- Ligurian: fortuna
- Limburgish: gelƶk
- Lingala: esengo
- Lithuanian: sÄkmÄ
- Lombard: fortuna
- Luganda: omukisa
- Luo: riek
- Luxembourgish: glƩck
- Macedonian: ŃŃŠµŃа (sreįø±a)
- Madurese: kabur
- Maithili: ą¤ą¤æą¤øą„मत (kismat)
- Makassar: untung
- Malagasy: sambatra
- Malay: nasib baik
- Malay (Jawi): ŁŲ³Ł ŲŖ (qismat)
- Malayalam: ą“ą“¾ą“ąµą“Æą“ (bhagyam)
- Maltese: xorti
- Mam: fortuna
- Manx: colldey
- Maori: waimarie
- Marathi: ą¤Øą¤¶ą„ą¤¬ (nasib)
- Marshallese: kunekć (kunek)
- Marwadi: ą¤ą¤æą¤øą„मत (kismat)
- Mauritian Creole: chance
- Meadow Mari: везŃŃŠøŠ¹ (vezuchiy)
- Meiteilon (Manipuri): ą¦ą¦¾ą¦ą§ą¦Æ (bhagya)
- Minang: nasib
- Mizo: tihbuai
- Mongolian: аз (az)
- Myanmar (Burmese): įį¶ (kan)
- Nahuatl (Eastern Huasteca): tlaxializtli
- Ndau: sikoriso
- Ndebele (South): ithamsanqa
- Nepalbhasa (Newari): ą¤ą¤æą¤øą„मत (kismat)
- Nepali: ą¤ą¤¾ą¤ą„य (bhagya)
- NKo: ßßßßß߬ßß (fankuta)
- Norwegian: lykke
- Nuer: mac
- Occitan: chanƧa
- Odia (Oriya): ą¬ą¬¾ą¬ąą (bhagya)
- Oromo: quube
- Ossetian: Š±Š°Ń Ń (bakht)
- Pangasinan: palarad
- Papiamento: suerte
- Pashto: ŁŲ³Ł ŲŖ (qismat)
- Persian: ŲØŲ®ŲŖ (bakht)
- Polish: szczÄÅcie
- Portuguese (Brazil): sorte
- Portuguese (Portugal): sorte
- Punjabi (Gurmukhi): ąØąØæąØøąØ®ąØ¤ (kismat)
- Punjabi (Shahmukhi): ŁŲ³Ł ŲŖ (qismat)
- Quechua: kausana
- Qʼeqchiʼ: utzilal
- Romani: sorte
- Romanian: noroc
- Rundi: amahirwe
- Russian: ŃŠ“Š°ŃŠ° (udacha)
- Sami (North): lƔhku
- Samoan: sÄfata
- Sango: si
- Sanskrit: ą¤ą¤¾ą¤ą„ą¤Æą¤®ą„ (bhÄgyam)
- Santali: į±į±µį±į± (abla)
- Scots Gaelic: fortan
- Sepedi: lehlohonolo
- Serbian: ŃŃŠµŃа (sreÄa)
- Sesotho: lehlohonolo
- Seychellois Creole: chans
- Shan: įį¶ (kan)
- Shona: rombo
- Sicilian: fortuna
- Silesian: szczÄÅcie
- Sindhi: ŁŲµŁŲØ (nasib)
- Sinhala: ą¶ą·ą·ą·ą¶»ą·ą· (issarawa)
- Slovak: Ŕńastie
- Slovenian: sreÄa
- Somali: nasiib
- Spanish: suerte
- Sundanese: untung
- Swahili: bahati
- Swedish: tur
- Tagalog: swerte
- Tahitian: luck
- Tajik: Š±Š°Ń Ń (bakht)
- Tamil: ą® ą®¤ą®æą®°ąÆą®·ąÆą®ą®®ąÆ (atirshtam)
- Tatar: бÓŃ ŠµŃ (bƤhƤt)
- Telugu: ą° ą°¦ą±ą°·ą±ą°ą° (adrushtam)
- Tetum: suerte
- Thai: ą¹ąøąøąøąøµ (chok dee)
- Tibetan: ą½ą½ą¾²ą¼ą½¤ą½²ą½¦ą¼ (bkra shis)
- Tigrinya: įįį (hamaq)
- Tongan: monu
- Tok Pisin: gudpela luk
- Tsonga: mahlwen
- Tswana: lehlohonolo
- Turkmen: bagty
- Turkish: Åans
- Tuvaluan: manuia
- Ukrainian: ŃŠ“Š°ŃŠ° (udacha)
- Upper Sorbian: ŔńasÄe
- Urdu: ŁŲ³Ł ŲŖ (qismat)
- Uyghur: ŲŖŪŁŪŁ (tele)
- Uzbek: omad
- Vietnamese: may mįŗÆn
- Volapük: luvan
- Walloon: chance
- Walser: geluck
- Waray: swerte
- Welsh: ffawd
- Mingrelian: įį¦įįįį (ighbali)
- Xhosa: ithamsanqa
- Yiddish: ××× (mazal)
- Yoruba: orire
- Zazaki: Åans
- Zulu: ithamsanqa
The English Language: Luck and Its Many Facets

The word luck is a versatile term in the English language. We often say “good luck” to wish someone success or “bad luck” when things don’t go as planned.
The English word luck has its roots in the Middle Dutch word “Luc,” which means “happiness” or “good fortune.”
Whether wishing someone a “happy birthday” or a “happy new year,” we often incorporate good luck wishes into our greetings.
And who hasn’t relied on aĀ lucky charmĀ or crossed their fingers, hoping for some luck?
German Words: Glück and Glücklich
In German, the word “Glück” holds a special place. It means “luck” and “happiness.” So when someone says, “Ich bin glücklich,” they say, “I am happy.”
Interestingly, the word “glücklich” combines the concepts of luck and joy, showing how intertwined they are in German culture.
Audio Pronunciation and Learning
If you’re keen on getting the audio pronunciation right, plenty of resources online help you sound like a native.
It’s always fun to learn different ways to express common sentiments, and who knows, it might just bring you some good fortune!
Italian Phrases: In Bocca al Lupo
When wishing someone luck in Italian, you might hear the phrase “in bocca al lupo,” which translates to “into the wolf’s mouth.” It’s akin to saying “break a leg” in English.
The appropriate response is “crepi il lupo,” meaning “may the wolf die.” This exchange is a charming part of Italian culture, much like their gestures and expressions that add color to everyday conversations.
Buona Fortuna and More
Of course, there’s also “buona fortuna,” which directly means “good luck.”
Italians have a rich tapestry of phrases and traditions surrounding luck, many of which are tied to historical and cultural practices.
For example, Roman numerals in their architecture and art symbolize timelessness and perhaps a bit of luck from the ancient gods.
Spanish Expressions: Buena Suerte
In Spanish-speaking countries, “buena suerte” is the go-to phrase for wishing someone good luck. The translation of the word “luck” in Spanish is “suerte.”
Whether it’s a big exam, a job interview, or everyday life, offering a heartfelt “buena suerte” is a common and warm gesture.
The Danish Term: Hyldig
Delving into Danish, the term “hyldig” isn’t commonly used in modern language, but it historically relates to being lucky or fortunate.
Like many Scandinavian countries, Denmark has unique words and expressions that capture the essence of its culture and outlook on life.
Social Media and Luck: TikTok Makes It Viral
In today’s digital age, social media platforms like TikTok make trends go viral instantly.
From sharing stories of lucky encounters to showcasing lucky charms, people worldwide connect over shared experiences of luck and fortune.
Hashtags related to luck often trend, bringing together a global community that celebrates each other’s good fortune and offers support during bad luck.
Multilingual Content Writers: Bridging Cultures

Thanks to multilingual content writers, we can access a wealth of information bridging cultural gaps.
They help us understand the nuances behind phrases like the German “word ‘glücklich” or the Italian “bocca al lupo.”
These writers play a crucial role in making knowledge accessible, often offering free trials or samples of their work to reach a wider audience.
Trademarks and Licensing: A Note on Alamy Ltd.

When exploring images or content related to luck, you might come across mentions of “trademarks of Alamy Ltd.“
Alamy is a stock image company that licenses photographs and other visual content. Respecting trademarks and licensing agreements is always important, especially when sharing content online.
Embracing Your Lucky Day

Understanding how different cultures express luck enriches our own experiences. Maybe today is your lucky day; learning about these expressions will bring you good fortune.
Whether you’re wishing someone a “happy birthday” or embarking on a new adventure, these phrases and the sentiments behind them connect us all.
Quick Recap of Luck Phrases:
- English: Good luck!
- German: Viel Glück! / Ich bin glücklich.
- Italian: Buona fortuna! / In bocca al lupo!
- Spanish: ”Buena suerte!
- Danish: Held og lykke! (Note: While “hyldig” is historical, “held” is commonly used today.)
Conclusion
Luck is a universal concept, yet it’s expressed in wonderfully diverse ways across languages and cultures.
From the German intertwining of luck and happiness to Italian phrases that invoke wolves, each expression offers a glimpse into cultural values and histories.
So next time you wish someone good luck, perhaps try out a new phrase and share a piece of global culture.
Remember, we make our luck differently through aĀ lucky charm, a heartfelt wish, or simply embracing the moment.
Here’s to your next lucky day!
Source: Portland State University
