boa sorte!
/ˈbo(w).ɐ ˈsɔʁ.t͡ʃi/word by word
boa sorte! is the Portuguese way to say good luck.
boa sorte! is used to wish fortune upon someone or to offer encouragement before a challenge or a difficult task.
Meaning: used to wish fortune on someone or as encouragement (intj)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the feminine adjective boa (good) and the feminine noun sorte (luck).
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
Because sorte is a feminine noun, the adjective must be the feminine form boa rather than the masculine bom.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈbo(w).ɐ ˈsɔʁ.tʃi/. The word has 4 syllables and the stress is on the 1st syllable.
Did you know?
- In Brazil, instead of boa sorte!, you might hear someone say merda! to wish a performer good luck, similar to the English theatrical tradition of saying 'break a leg'.
- In Brazil, someone who is consistently lucky is often called sortudo, but if they have an inexplicable streak of luck, they might be described as having estrela (star).
- If you are in a superstitious setting in Portugal, saying boa sorte! might actually be avoided to avoid 'jinxing' the person, as some believe speaking of luck attracts bad fortune.
Examples in context
- Claro. Boa sorte!Sure. Good luck!This sentence shows how to use boa sorte! to wish someone well.Tatoeba #886789 by alexmarcelo, translation #4431177 by Vortarulo
- Boa sorte com a sua apresentação amanhãGood luck with your presentation tomorrow
- Desejo-lhe boa sorte na entrevista de empregoI wish you good luck in the job interview
- Boa sorte na prova!Good luck on the exam!
- Tomara que dê tudo certo no seu novo projetoI hope everything goes well with your new project
Example conversation
Lucas and Beatriz are talking before a job interview.
- LucasEu estou muito nervoso para a entrevista.I am very nervous for the interview.
- BeatrizFique calmo, Lucas. Você consegue!Stay calm, Lucas. You can do it!
- LucasObrigado pelo apoio, Beatriz.Thanks for the support, Beatriz.
- BeatrizDe nada. Boa sorte!You're welcome. Good luck!
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 (boa, sorte) and can differ in connected speech.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
