suerte
/ˈsweɾte/
The Spanish phrase suerte means luck.
To wish someone good luck, the standard expression is ¡Buena suerte! In casual conversation, Spanish speakers often shorten this wish to just ¡Suerte! to mean 'Good luck!'
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico, it is common to hear the phrase ¡Que te vaya bien!, which can be translated as 'May things go well for you!' In Argentina, the expression ¡Éxitos! means 'Success!'
How does it change in a sentence?
suerte is a feminine noun, so any accompanying adjectives must also be in the feminine form, such as buena suerte.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈsweɾte/
When do people say it?
The standard response to someone wishing you suerte is ¡Gracias!
Did you know?
- While ¡Buena suerte! is common, some Spanish speakers avoid it in high-stakes situations like theater or dance, preferring 'reverse' luck wishes to avoid jinxing the performer.
- The word suerte is a distant relative of the English word 'sort'. Both derive from a root meaning to categorize or divide by lot.
- The word suerte is also used in card games and gambling to refer to a specific 'hand' or the specific 'turn' a player takes.
Examples in context
- Mucha suerte en la entrevista de trabajo.Good luck in the job interview.
- Gracias, deseo que tengas suerte en tu día también.Thank you, I wish you luck with your day as well.
- ¡Mucha suerte con tu examen!Good luck with your exam!
- Tuvimos la suerte de encontrar un taxi.We were lucky enough to find a taxi.
Example conversation
Daniel is leaving for a job interview.
- DanielMe voy a mi entrevista ahora.I am going to my interview now.
- Elena¡Mucha suerte, Daniel!Lots of luck, Daniel!
- DanielGracias, Elena.Thanks, Elena.
- ElenaTú lo vas a lograr.You are going to make it.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry suerte, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
