невезу́чий
nevezúčij
The English word unlucky translates to Russian as невезу́чий (nevezúčij). Wiktionary also lists неуда́чливый (neudáčlivyj).
Meaning: having ill luck (adj)
Ways to say it
| Russian | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| невезу́чий | nevezúčij |
| неуда́чливый | neudáčlivyj |
Russian uses different words for unlucky depending on whether you are talking about random luck or general failure in life.
What does it mean word for word?
The adjective невезу́чий is composed of the prefix не– (not), the root вез– (to carry or drive, used idiomatically for luck) and the suffix –учий (which forms an adjective).
Which one should you use?
невезу́чий is typically used for someone who has bad luck in games, gambling or random chance. In contrast, неуда́чливый often implies a person who is generally unsuccessful or prone to failure in their endeavors.
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective невезу́чий changes based on gender and number: the feminine form is невезу́чая and the plural form is невезу́чие.
How do you pronounce it?
nevezúčij
Did you know?
- While 'unlucky' describes a person, Russians often avoid the word несчастливый for bad luck because it is more closely tied to a deep, existential lack of happiness.
- The root of невезу́чий comes from the verb везти, which means 'to carry' or 'to drive' a vehicle. In Russian, luck is conceptualized as something that is being 'driven' or 'carried' toward you.
- If you want to say someone is 'unlucky' in a way that suggests they are a 'loser' in life, you might use the word неуда́чник. This noun is much harsher than the adjective неуда́чливый and is often used as a social insult.
Examples in context
- Бедный Петр, он такой невезучий, всегда что-то случается.Poor Peter, he is so unlucky, something always happens to him.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “unlucky” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
