Fortune vs Luck

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Fortune

Top 1,000 (very common) B2 noun

Luck

Top 1,000 (very common) A2 noun

	Fortune	Luck
Pronunciation	🇬🇧 /["/ˈfɔːtʃuːn/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/ˈfɔːrtʃən/"]/	🇬🇧 /["/lʌk/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/lʌk/"]/
Meaning	A lot of money or good luck.	Good fortune or chance that helps you.
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!
Register	Neutral	Neutral
How common	Top 1,000 (very common)	Top 1,000 (very common)
CEFR level	B2	A2
Part of speech	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
Antonyms	poverty, misfortune	misfortune, bad luck
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.'
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.

See it in real clips

House Of Dragons › S1 E1

I wish you luck, ser criston.

A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms › S1 E1

S-So, the luck is ours alone?

Band Of Brothers › S1 E1

With any luck.

House Of Dragons › S1 E1

I wish you luck, ser criston.

A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms › S1 E1

S-So, the luck is ours alone?

Luck

Frequently asked questions: Fortune vs Luck

What's the difference between Fortune and Luck?

Fortune: A lot of money or good luck. Luck: Good fortune or chance that helps you.

Which is more advanced: Fortune and Luck?

Fortune is the highest level, at B2, on the CEFR scale.

Are Fortune and Luck the same CEFR level?

Fortune: B2, Luck: A2 on the CEFR scale.

What part of speech are Fortune and Luck?

Fortune: noun, Luck: 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!

Can I use Fortune and Luck interchangeably?

Not always. Fortune 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.