Cool MateChance vs Fortune
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Chance
Top 1,000 (very common)A2noun
Fortune
Top 1,000 (very common)B2noun
| Chance | Fortune | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/tʃɑːns/"]/🇺🇸 /["/tʃæns/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈfɔːtʃuːn/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈfɔːrtʃən/"]/ |
| Meaning | A possibility of something happening. | A lot of money or good luck. |
| Example | She took a chance and applied for the job, despite her doubts. | She decided to test her fortune by playing the lottery. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | A2 | B2 |
| Part of speech | noun | noun |
| Collocations | excellent, good, high, give somebody, be in with, have, by any chance, chance of, chance for, fat chance, have every chance, no chance!, equal, fair, good, element, get, have, deserve, arise, come, come your way, chance at, given the chance, half a chance, let a chance slip, take, chance on, chance with, mere, pure, sheer, leave something to, by chance, due to chance, through chance, a game of chance, take your chances | considerable, enormous, great, accumulate, acquire, amass, hunter, fortune from, fortune in, fortune on, fame and fortune, heir to a fortune, heiress to a fortune, good, bad, ill, piece, stroke, have, bring (somebody), be on somebody’s side, favour/favor somebody, smile on somebody, as good fortune would have it, a change in fortune, a change of fortune, declining, flagging, changing, boost, improve, revive, change, fluctuate, improve, a reversal of fortune, a reversal of fortunes, read, tell, teller, telling |
| Antonyms | certainty, inevitability | poverty, misfortune |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'change' in spoken English., Using 'chance' as a verb incorrectly., Saying 'a chance to do' when it should be 'chance of doing'. | Confused with 'fortuitous' — relates to chance, not wealth., Placing 'a' before 'fortune' when referencing large amounts, e.g., 'a fortune' not 'fortune'. |
| Usage notes | Use 'chance' when discussing the likelihood of an event. It's appropriate in both spoken and written contexts but avoid using it in very formal documents. It can often be replaced with 'opportunity' when talking about the possibility for success. | Used in contexts related to wealth or luck. Not typically used in formal business conversations. |
Frequently asked questions: Chance vs Fortune
What's the difference between Chance and Fortune?
Chance: A possibility of something happening. Fortune: A lot of money or good luck.
Are Chance and Fortune the same CEFR level?
Chance: A2, Fortune: B2 on the CEFR scale.
Can I use Chance and Fortune interchangeably?
Not always. Chance and Fortune are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.