buena suerte
/ˌbwena ˈsweɾte/
gl is an abbreviation for the English phrase 'good luck' used in Spanish.
In Spanish-speaking online gaming and text messaging communities, the abbreviation gl is used to wish someone success. This specific abbreviation is borrowed directly from English.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˌbwena ˈsweɾte/
Did you know?
- While gl is a borrowed English abbreviation, a native Spanish way to wish someone luck in a game is to say mucha mierda if they are performing or about to face a challenge.
- The English word 'sort' and the Spanish word suerte are distant linguistic cousins, both descending from a Latin word for a 'lot' drawn by chance.
- In some Spanish-speaking cultures, mentioning suerte too early or too often can be seen as 'calling' bad luck. Some people prefer to use indirect phrases to avoid tempting fate.
Examples in context
- GloboBalloon
- GloriaGlory
- ¡Buena suerte en tu examen!Good luck on your exam!
- Buena suerte con el nuevo trabajo.Good luck with the new job.
Example conversation
Alejandro and Lucía are texting before a gaming tournament.
- AlejandroYa voy a empezar la partida.I'm going to start the game now.
- Lucía¡Buena suerte, Alejandro!Good luck, Alejandro!
- AlejandroGracias, Lucía.Thanks, Lucía.
- Lucía¡Tú puedes ganar!You can win!
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry buena suerte, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries buena suerte, suerte, CC BY-SA 4.0.
