Ways to say it
| Russian | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| везу́чий | vezúčij | |
| уда́чливый | udáčlivyj | |
| счастли́вый | sčastlívyj | |
| уда́чный | udáčnyj | |
| везти́ | veztí | impersonal, verb |
| счастли́виться | sčastlívitʹsja | imperfective, impersonal, verb |
| фарти́ть | fartítʹ | imperfective, impersonal, slang, verb |
In Russian, the choice of word for 'lucky' depends heavily on whether you are describing a person, a specific event or a feeling of happiness. You can describe a person who consistently has good fortune with везу́чий or уда́чливый, or describe a specific successful event with уда́чный. If you want to state that you are currently experiencing a streak of luck, it is common to use the impersonal verb construction мне везёт.
What does it mean word for word?
The adjective везу́чий is metaphorically derived from the verb везти́, which means 'to carry' or 'to drive', suggesting that luck is 'carrying' the person along.
Which one should you use?
Russian distinguishes between different types of luck: везу́чий is used for a person who consistently 'gets lucky' through chance. уда́чливый is a more formal and neutral way to describe a lucky person. уда́чный is used specifically to describe an event or outcome, such as a lucky shot. And счастли́вый primarily means 'happy' (an emotional state), though it can also mean 'lucky' in a profound, blessed sense. While везу́чий implies the luck of a gambler, счастли́вый implies a more deep-seated fortune.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
везу́чий is more colloquial than the neutral уда́чливый. In slang, specifically regarding gambling or street life, you might hear the verb фарти́ть to describe a streak of good luck.
How does it change in a sentence?
To express that luck is currently with you, use the impersonal verb везти́, as in мне везёт (literally, 'to me it carries/drags'). The verb счастли́виться is an impersonal imperfective verb.
How do you pronounce it?
vezúčij
When do people say it?
To wish someone good luck, you can say Удачи! In colloquial settings, the word Фарт (borrowed from German) is used to convey the concept of having good luck.
Did you know?
- The slang word фарт for luck comes from the German word Fahrt, meaning 'journey' or 'trip'.
- Using счастли́вый to mean 'lucky' usually implies a lifelong or divine blessing rather than a random stroke of luck.
- The phrase мне везёт implies a passive experience where luck is an external force acting upon the person.
Examples in context
- Он очень везу́чий человек.On ochen' vezuchiy chelovek.He is a very lucky person.
- Мне нужен везу́чий партнёр.Mne nuzhen vezuchiy partnyor.I need a lucky partner.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “lucky” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
