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"good luck" in seven languages

Meaninggood luck

Spanish

buena suerte

/ˈbwena ˈsweɾte/

other source · Latin SORTEM 'lot (drawn), fate'

French

bonne chance

/bɔn ʃɑ̃s/

other source · Vulgar Latin *CADENTIA 'the fall (of the dice)', from CADERE 'to fall'

Italian

buona fortuna

/ˈbwɔna forˈtuna/

other source · Latin FORTŪNAM 'luck, fate'

Portuguese

boa sorte

/ˈboɐ ˈsɔhtʃi/

other source · Latin SORTEM 'lot (drawn), fate'

Romanian

succes

/sukˈtʃes/

other source · French succès (Latin SUCCESSUM)

Informally baftă, a Turkish word.

Catalan

bona sort

/ˈbɔnə sɔɾt/

other source · Latin SORTEM 'lot (drawn), fate'

English

good luck

/gʊd lʌk/

other source · Middle Dutch gelucke

English → Italiangood luckbuona fortunaNot relatedDifferent sources — learn this one fresh.What English and Italian share

The story

Three gamblers' words: Spanish suerte is the lot you draw (SORTEM), French chance is how the dice fall (*CADENTIA), Italian fortuna is Lady Luck herself. Before an exam Italians say in bocca al lupo ('into the wolf's mouth') and answer crepi!

Learn it

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In a sentence

  • es¡Buena suerte en el examen!
  • frBonne chance pour l'examen !
  • itBuona fortuna per l'esame!
  • ptBoa sorte na prova!
  • roSucces la examen!
  • caBona sort a l'examen!
  • enGood luck with the exam!

More in Greetings & courtesy

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