Ways to say it
| German | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| viel Glück! | /fiːl ɡlʏk/ (word by word) | neuter |
| viel Erfolg! | /fiːl ɛɐ̯ˈfɔlk/ (word by word) | masculine |
German speakers choose between these forms based on whether they are wishing someone fortune or achievement. Use viel Glück! to wish someone luck in a game of chance or a situation involving random fortune. However, it is more common and often more appropriate to use viel Erfolg! for professional or academic endeavors, such as an exam, a job interview or a business project.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase viel Glück! literally translates to "much luck!", where viel means "much" and Glück means "luck".
Which one should you use?
viel Glück! is used for general luck or fortune, while viel Erfolg! is specifically used to wish someone success in a particular task or achievement.
How do you pronounce it?
/fiːl ɡlʏk/
When do people say it?
When wishing someone well, Germans often distinguish between the randomness of luck and the result of effort. To show support, a common informal gesture is to say you are "pressing your thumbs" for someone.
Did you know?
- In the theater, Germans avoid saying viel Glück! because it is considered a jinx. Instead, they say Hals- und Beinbruch!, which means 'break your neck and leg'.
- The word Glück is a homonym in German. While it means 'luck' in viel Glück!, it also means 'happiness' when describing a state of mind.
- The word Glück was likely borrowed from Old Dutch as part of the Flemish knight culture during the 12th century.
Examples in context
- Tschüss und viel Glück!Goodbye and good luck.This sentence is useful for saying goodbye while wishing someone luck with the form viel Glück!Tatoeba #485474 by Espi, translation #434818 by lukaszpp
- Ich wünsche ihnen viel Glück!I wish them good luck.This sentence shows how to wish someone luck using the form viel Glück!Tatoeba #10506141 by Melang, translation #10444029 by FaridTrad
- Viel Glück! Du wirst es brauchen.Good luck. You'll need it.This sentence provides a way to say good luck with the form viel Glück!Tatoeba #4847015 by Manfredo, translation #3361237 by Hybrid
- Hals- und Beinbruch für dein Konzert heute Abend!Break a leg at your concert tonight!
- 6 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Julian and Laura are talking before Laura's job interview.
- JulianGeht es dir gut, Laura?Are you doing okay, Laura?
- LauraIch bin ein bisschen nervös.I am a bit nervous.
- JulianDu schaffst das! Viel Glück!You can do it! Good luck!
- LauraDanke, Julian!Thanks, Julian!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “good luck” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (viel, Glück, Erfolg) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Erfolg, Glück, viel, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
