Cool MateFate vs Fortune
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Fate
Top 1,000 (very common)C1noun
Fortune
Top 1,000 (very common)B2noun
| Fate | Fortune | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/feɪt/"]/🇺🇸 /["/feɪt/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈfɔːtʃuːn/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈfɔːrtʃən/"]/ |
| Meaning | What happens to a person or thing in the future. | A lot of money or good luck. |
| Example | She believed that her fate was sealed the moment she left her hometown. | 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 | C1 | B2 |
| Part of speech | noun | noun |
| Collocations | awful, grim, horrible, face, meet, suffer, await somebody/something, be in store for somebody/something, lie in store for somebody/something, leave your fate in somebody’s hands, place your fate in somebody’s hands, put your fate in somebody’s hands, cruel, kind, believe in, tempt, leave something to, decide something, decree something, intervene, an accident of fate, a turn of fate, a twist of fate | 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 | choice, free will, determination | poverty, misfortune |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'fate' vs 'destiny' - 'fate' is often considered more fatalistic., Used inappropriately in a non-physical sense, such as 'fate of feelings'., Omitting articles incorrectly, e.g., 'Fate is inevitable' instead of 'The fate is inevitable.' | 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 'fate' when discussing destiny or unavoidable events. It's formal enough for serious topics but can also be used casually. Avoid using in overly casual or light conversations. | Used in contexts related to wealth or luck. Not typically used in formal business conversations. |
Frequently asked questions: Fate vs Fortune
What's the difference between Fate and Fortune?
Fate: What happens to a person or thing in the future. Fortune: A lot of money or good luck.
Which is more advanced: Fate and Fortune?
Fate is the highest level, at C1, on the CEFR scale.
Are Fate and Fortune the same CEFR level?
Fate: C1, Fortune: B2 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are Fate and Fortune?
Fate: noun, Fortune: noun.
Can you show an example of each?
Fate: She believed that her fate was sealed the moment she left her hometown. Fortune: She decided to test her fortune by playing the lottery.
Can I use Fate and Fortune interchangeably?
Not always. Fate 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.