на до́бър час!
na dóbăr čas!
The English phrase "good luck" can be expressed in Bulgarian as на до́бър час! (na dóbăr čas!) or успех!
Meaning: used to wish fortune on someone or as encouragement (intj)
Ways to say it
| Bulgarian | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| на до́бър час! | na dóbăr čas! |
| успех! | uspeh! |
на до́бър час! is a traditional idiom used for general well-wishing, specifically when someone is departing on a journey or starting a new endeavor. It carries the sense of "good luck" or "bon voyage". успех! is used to wish someone success in a specific task.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase на до́бър час! literally translates to "on a good hour!"
Which one should you use?
на до́бър час! is an idiomatic expression for general well-wishing and travel, while успех! is a more direct way to wish someone success in a specific task.
How do you pronounce it?
na dóbăr čas!
When do people say it?
на до́бър час! is the standard way to wish someone a safe and pleasant trip.
Did you know?
- While на до́бър час! is used for journeys, Bulgarians avoid saying честито 'congratulations' before an event has actually happened, as it is sometimes believed to bring bad luck to the outcome.
- The word на in this idiom comes from Old Church Slavonic, linking this common Bulgarian well-wish to ancient Slavic linguistic roots.
- In Bulgaria, wishing someone успех! before a performance or exam is common, but some people may avoid it in favor of more indirect phrases to avoid 'jinxing' the result.
Examples in context
- Брат ми днес има важен изпит. Късмет, братко!My brother has an important exam today. Good luck, bro!
- Пожелах късмет на колегата за предстоящата презентация.I wished my colleague good luck for the upcoming presentation.
- Желая ви успех в новото ви начинание!I wish you success in your new venture!
- Ви желая късмет!I wish you good luck!
- Успех на изпита!Success on the exam!
- На до́бър час! Дано се справиш добре.Na dóbar chas! Da no se spravish dobre.Good luck! I hope you do well.
- Влизам в автобуса. На до́бър час!Vlizam v avtobusa. Na dóbar chas!I'm getting on the bus. Have a good trip!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “good luck” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries на, час, CC BY-SA 4.0.
