held og lykke
The English phrase "best of luck" is translated into Danish as held og lykke.
The phrase is used to wish someone success in a future event or endeavor. It is a common way to say "good luck" and maintains a neutral and polite tone.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase held og lykke literally translates to "luck and happiness" or "luck and fortune".
Which one should you use?
While held og lykke is the standard neutral expression, there are several variations: Bedste held og lykke conveys a slightly more personal tone for "best of luck". For a more formal approach, you can use Må heldet være med dig, which means "may the luck be with you". In informal settings, you might say Held og lykke med det! for "good luck with that!", Håber det går godt! for "hope everything goes well!" or the playful phrase Knæk og bræk, which literally means "snap and break".
How does it change in a sentence?
The most common way to use the phrase is to add an exclamation mark, as in Held og lykke!
Did you know?
- While held og lykke is standard, Danes use knæk og bræk in performing arts. Saying held og lykke to an actor is often considered bad luck, similar to the English 'break a leg'.
- While English speakers use 'luck' to mean success, the Danish word held shares an ancient root with the concept of being 'whole' or 'sound'.
- In Danish, the word lykke has a double meaning. It can mean 'luck' in the phrase held og lykke, but it is also the primary word for 'happiness'.
Examples in context
- Held og lykke med din eksamenGood luck with your exam
- Bedste held og lykke med din rejseBest of luck with your journey
- Held og lykke med din eksamen!Best of luck with your exam!
- Jeg ønsker dig held og lykke.I wish you best of luck.
- Held og lykke med det nye job.Best of luck with the new job.
Example conversation
Noah is leaving for a job interview.
- NoahJeg skal til jobsamtale nu.I'm going to a job interview now.
- SofieHvor spændende! Held og lykke, Noah.How exciting! Best of luck, Noah.
- NoahMange tak, Sofie.Many thanks, Sofie.
- SofieDu klarer det helt sikkert.You will definitely nail it.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry held og lykke, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries held, lykke, og, CC BY-SA 4.0.
