Ways to say it
| Ukrainian | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| хай щасти́ть! | xaj ščastýtʹ! |
| уда́чі! | udáči! |
| щасти́! | ščastý! |
| неха́й щасти́ть! | nexáj ščastýtʹ! |
These expressions are used to wish fortune upon someone or to offer encouragement.
What does it mean word for word?
In the phrase хай щасти́ть!, the word хай is a particle meaning "let" used to express a wish. The verb form щасти́ть is a third-person singular form of an impersonal verb meaning "is being lucky" or "is succeeding". In the phrase уда́чі!, the word уда́чі is the genitive singular of уда́ча (luck), creating an elliptical construction that literally means "[I wish you] of luck!"
Which one should you use?
The forms differ in their structure and length. уда́чі! is a common, concise way to say "luck!", while хай щасти́ть! uses a more complete sentence structure. The particle неха́й in неха́й щасти́ть! is a synonym for хай and is used to express a wish, often sounding slightly more emphatic.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The form щасти́! is an imperative form used in very informal or colloquial settings. неха́й щасти́ть! can sound slightly more formal or emphatic due to the particle used.
How does it change in a sentence?
The expression уда́чі! uses the genitive singular case of the noun уда́ча to convey the wish. The particles хай and неха́й function to form the optative or hortative mood, which is used for expressing wishes.
How do you pronounce it?
xaj ščastýtʹ!
Did you know?
- In many Slavic cultures, including Ukraine, one might avoid saying 'good luck' before a performance or an important event to avoid the 'evil eye'. Instead, people might use more indirect or playful expressions to circumvent bad luck.
- The word уда́ча (luck) shares a conceptual root with the idea of a 'hit' or a 'stroke', implying that luck is something that strikes or lands upon a person unexpectedly.
- The word ща́стя (happiness) and the verb щасти́ть (to be lucky) share the same root, meaning that in Ukrainian, 'luck' and 'happiness' are linguistically intertwined.
Examples in context
- Удачі на співбесіді! Нехай щастить!Good luck in your interview! May luck be with you!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “good luck” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
