Ways to say it
| German | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Chance | /ˈʃãːs(ə)/ /ˈʃɔ̃ːs(ə)/ |
feminine |
| Zufall | /ˈt͡suːˌfal/ | |
| Gelegenheit | [ɡəˈleːɡŋ̩haɪ̯t] (narrow) [ɡəˈleːɡənhaɪ̯t] (narrow) |
feminine |
| Möglichkeit | /ˈmøːklɪçˌkaɪ̯t/ | feminine |
German uses different words to distinguish between a lucky break, a neutral opportunity or a random occurrence. You can use the phrase eine Chance haben to mean both having a literal opportunity and having the prospect of succeeding in a competition or a struggle. If you are describing something that happens by chance, you can use the adjective zufällig. If you want to express the idea of trying or risking something, you can use the verbs riskieren or wagen.
Which one should you use?
The choice of word depends on the specific nuance of 'chance' you wish to convey. Use Gelegenheit for a neutral, common word meaning a specific opportunity or occasion. Use Möglichkeit when referring to a theoretical possibility or an option. Use Chance when implying a favorable opportunity or a 'big break'. Use Zufall when you mean a coincidence or an accident rather than an opportunity. Additionally, Glück can be used when referring to 'luck' as a chance element.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
All feminine forms, such as Gelegenheit, Möglichkeit and Chance, require feminine articles.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈʃãːs(ə)/
Did you know?
- In German, calling someone a Glückspilz literally translates to a 'luck mushroom'. It is a common way to describe someone who has a lot of chance on their side.
- The word Glück is used to describe both 'luck' and 'happiness'. This means a 'lucky chance' and a 'happy life' share the same root word.
- In German, the word Chance is actually a loanword from French, whereas the native German words like Zufall or Gelegenheit are used to express the same core ideas.
Examples in context
- Das ist Ihre Chance.This is your chance.This sentence is useful for pointing out a specific opportunity using Chance.Tatoeba #5020503 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #5020473 by CK
- Er hat keine Chance.He doesn't stand a chance.This sentence is useful for saying someone does not stand a chance using Chance.Tatoeba #6082985 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #2182124 by Hybrid
- Es gibt eine Chance.There's a chance.This sentence is useful for stating that an opportunity exists using Chance.Tatoeba #13191944 by Waldelfe, translation #13735682 by sundown
- Es besteht die Möglichkeit, dass ich den Job bekomme.There is a chance that I will get the job.
- Diese Konferenz bietet eine gute Gelegenheit, um neue Kontakte zu knüpfen.This conference offers a good chance/opportunity to make new contacts.
- Die Aussichten für eine Einigung sind nicht sehr gut.The chances/prospects for an agreement are not very good.
- Es war ein reiner Zufall, dass wir uns hier getroffen haben.It was pure chance/coincidence that we met here.
- 578 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Maximilian and Sarah are talking about a job opening.
- MaximilianHast du die Chance gesehen?Did you see the opportunity?
- SarahJa, ich will diese Chance nutzen.Yes, I want to take this chance.
- MaximilianDu hast gute Chancen auf den Job.You have good chances for the job.
- SarahDanke, das hoffe ich auch, Maximilian.Thanks, I hope so too, Maximilian.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “chance” translations and entries Chance, Zufall, Gelegenheit, Möglichkeit, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Chance, Gelegenheit, Möglichkeit, Zufall, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
