Cool MateFortune vs Luck vs Wealth
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Fortune
Top 1,000 (very common)B2noun
Luck
Top 1,000 (very common)A2noun
Wealth
Top 1,000 (very common)B2noun
| Fortune | Luck | Wealth | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈfɔːtʃuːn/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈfɔːrtʃən/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/lʌk/"]/🇺🇸 /["/lʌk/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/welθ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/welθ/"]/ |
| Meaning | A lot of money or good luck. | Good fortune or chance that helps you. | Having a lot of money and valuable things. |
| Example | She decided to test her fortune by playing the lottery. | I found a four-leaf clover, and I believe it brought me good luck! | His wealth was evident in the luxurious car he drove. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | B2 | A2 | B2 |
| Part of speech | noun | noun | noun |
| Collocations | 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 | better, good, great, piece, stroke, have, bring (somebody), give somebody, desert somebody, run out, continue, by… luck, for luck, in luck, as luck would have it, beginner’s luck, better luck next time, better, good, great, piece, stroke, have, bring (somebody), give somebody, desert somebody, run out, continue, by… luck, for luck, in luck, as luck would have it, beginner’s luck, better luck next time | considerable, enormous, fabulous, have, possess, accumulate, a distribution of wealth, a redistribution of wealth, considerable, enormous, fabulous, have, possess, accumulate, a distribution of wealth, a redistribution of wealth, enormous, great, immense, have, offer, provide, of … wealth |
| Antonyms | poverty, misfortune | misfortune, bad luck | poverty, lack |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'fortuitous' — relates to chance, not wealth., Placing 'a' before 'fortune' when referencing large amounts, e.g., 'a fortune' not 'fortune'. | Confused with 'luckily' as it may change the sentence structure., Used in plural form 'lucks', which is incorrect., Misused as a verb, e.g., 'to luck something.' | Confused with 'health' due to similarity in sound., Using it in singular form incorrectly, as in 'a wealth' instead of just 'wealth'., Mixing up with 'riches', which has a slightly different implication. |
| Usage notes | Used in contexts related to wealth or luck. Not typically used in formal business conversations. | Used in general conversation about events or situations. Can be positive or negative (e.g., 'good luck' or 'bad luck'). Not usually used in very formal contexts. | Used in contexts related to finances and economics. It can refer to material assets, but also to other forms of abundance, like knowledge. Generally positive connotation; avoid using in negative contexts. |
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Frequently asked questions: Fortune vs Luck vs Wealth
What's the difference between Fortune, Luck, and Wealth?
Fortune: A lot of money or good luck. Luck: Good fortune or chance that helps you. Wealth: Having a lot of money and valuable things.
Are Fortune, Luck, and Wealth the same CEFR level?
Fortune: B2, Luck: A2, Wealth: B2 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are Fortune, Luck, and Wealth?
Fortune: noun, Luck: noun, Wealth: noun.
Can you show an example of each?
Fortune: She decided to test her fortune by playing the lottery. Luck: I found a four-leaf clover, and I believe it brought me good luck! Wealth: His wealth was evident in the luxurious car he drove.
Can I use Fortune, Luck, and Wealth interchangeably?
Not always. Fortune, Luck, and Wealth 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.