Cool MateFortunes vs Luck
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Fortunes
Top 2,000 (common)
Luck
Top 1,000 (very common)A2noun
Most common: Luck
| Fortunes | Luck | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //ˈfɔːtʃənz//🇺🇸 //ˈfɔr.tʃənz// | 🇬🇧 /["/lʌk/"]/🇺🇸 /["/lʌk/"]/ |
| Meaning | Good luck or wealth | Good fortune or chance that helps you. |
| Example | He amassed a great fortune through hard work. | I found a four-leaf clover, and I believe it brought me good luck! |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | - | A2 |
| Part of speech | noun | |
| Collocations | make a fortune, change one's fortunes, fortune favors the bold | 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 |
| Antonyms | misfortune, poverty | misfortune, bad luck |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'fortune' (singular) when discussing a single instance., Used incorrectly in plural form when it should be singular., Confused with 'destiny' regarding fate. | 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.' |
| Usage notes | Use 'fortunes' for both financial situations and general luck. In formal contexts, prefer 'wealth' or 'prosperity'. | 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. |
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Frequently asked questions: Fortunes vs Luck
What's the difference between Fortunes and Luck?
Fortunes: Good luck or wealth Luck: Good fortune or chance that helps you.
Which is more common: Fortunes and Luck?
Luck is the most common in everyday English.
Can I use Fortunes and Luck interchangeably?
Not always. Fortunes and Luck 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.