Ways to say it
| Russian | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| уда́чи! | udáči! |
| жела́ю уда́чи! | želáju udáči! |
| успе́ха! | uspéxa! |
The phrase уда́чи! is a direct translation of "good luck" and is the most common and versatile way to express this sentiment in Russian. You can also use успе́ха! to wish someone success in a specific task or endeavor.
Which one should you use?
While уда́чи! focuses on wishing someone fortune or luck, успе́ха! is more specifically used to wish someone success in a particular task or endeavor.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
уда́чи! is a common, versatile way to say "good luck" in both casual and semi-formal settings. For more formal occasions, you can use the more complete phrase жела́ю уда́чи!, which means "I wish you good luck!" Additionally, желаю успехов (I wish you success) is often used in formal settings.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The form уда́чи is the genitive case of the noun уда́ча, which is used in these expressions to wish for a portion of luck.
How do you pronounce it?
udáči!
Did you know?
- Performing artists in Russia often avoid saying уда́чи! and instead say ни пу́ха ни волоса́! or simply ни пу́ха!, which literally means 'neither fluff nor hair'.
- When someone says ни пу́ха!, the correct response is not 'thank you' but к чёрту!, which means 'to the devil!'
- The custom of saying ни пу́ха! originates from a superstition that wishing for success would attract the attention of evil spirits who would then ruin the event.
Examples in context
- Желаю успехов в новом проекте!I wish you success in your new project!
- Удачи тебе на экзамене!Good luck in your exam!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “good luck” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
