Say Good Luck in Multiple Languages

"Good luck" is a popular phrase in English. Most other languages have a phrase that conveys a similar sentiment. Maybe you are traveling internationally and want to have several phrases memorized. Or perhaps you have a new neighbor or colleague who speaks a different language. It can be useful to know how to say basic phrases like "good luck" to make them feel welcome. Whatever your reason, knowing how to say "good luck" can be a great thing to have memorized. Just choose your language, practice your pronunciation, and start practicing!

Steps

Memorizing "Good Luck" in Multiple Languages

  1. Look up multiple phrases. Maybe you don't have a specific language that you need or want to learn. That's fine! It's fun to be able to say a handy phrase like "good luck" in dozens of languages. Start by learning these:
    • Afrikaans: Sterkte! (pronounced: Stehrk-teh)
    • Arabic: حظ جيد - بالتوفيق (pronounced, Haz jaid - be al tawfeeq)
    • Bengali: আল্লাহ হাফেজ (pronounced, Allah hafez) (Note: "Allah Hafez is not Bangla. It is an Arabic or Persian greeting, often used for "Goodbye" in Pakistan and Bangladesh, similar to the common 'Khuda Hafez")
    • Bulgarian: Успех!
    • Catalan: Bona sort
    • Chinese: 加油 (pronounced, "Jia you")
    • Danish: Held og lykke
    • Dutch: Veel geluk
    • English: Good luck
    • Farsi: Bedrud
    • Filipino: Pagpalain ka
    • Finnish: Onnea
    • French: Bonne chance
    • Frisian : Folle gelok
  2. Choose additional languages. Once you've learned the first several, you'll probably be on a roll. Continue to challenge yourself by adding to your list. You can also try memorizing these phrases:
    • German: Viel Glück, Alles Gute!
    • Greek: Καλή τύχη (pronounced: Kali tihi)
    • Hawaiian: Maikaʻi pomaikaʻi
    • Hebrew: בהצלחה (pronounced: Behatzlacha)
    • Hindi: Shubhakaamana
    • Hungarian: Sok szerencsét!
    • Indonesian: Semoga beruntung
    • Italian: Buona Fortuna
    • Japanese: Ganbatte kudasai
    • Kannada: Shubhavaagali
    • Korean: haeng un
  3. Create a comprehensive list. Challenge yourself to see how many different languages you can learn. Finish your memorization by committing the rest of this list to memory:
    • Latin: Bona Fortuna
    • Maltese: Awguri
    • Mandarin: Zhu ni hao yun
    • Marathi: Shubhecha (Shu-bhe-cha)
    • Malay: Semoga berjaya
    • Norwegian: Lykke til
    • Português: Boa sorte
    • Romanian: Noroc
    • Russian: Udachi
    • Spanish: Buena suerte
    • Swedish Lycka till! (pronounced (IPA): lʏka tɪl)
    • Turkish: Iyi Sanslar (pronounced -- ee-yi Shans-la
    • Welsh Pob lwc
    • Sanskrit: Shubhamasthu

Choosing Your Language

  1. Consider your motivations. Your first step to learning how to say "good luck" in multiple languages is deciding which dialects you want to learn. Think about your purpose. Why do you want to learn this skill?[1]
    • Maybe you are going to be taking a European vacation. You might be motivated to learn this phrase in the native tongue of each country you will visit.
    • Perhaps you have recently started working in a company with global operations. "Good luck" might be useful to know in business settings. If you'll regularly be working with the Tokyo office, learn some phrases in Japanese.
    • You might also want to learn to better communicate with friends or family who don't speak your native language. Consider learning phrases in a language that your loved ones speak. For example, if your grandmother speaks Italian, spend some time studying Italian phrases.
  2. Think about the situation. When learning new phrases, spend some time reflecting on how you will use them. Like English, most other languages will have formal and informal expressions for wishing someone well. Consider learning a few phrases in each language, so that you will be prepared for multiple occasions.
    • For example, if you plan to use "good luck" in a professional setting, you will want to learn to say the equivalent of something like "Best of luck with your client meeting today."[2]
    • In English, you might say something like "Break a leg" as a casual way to wish a friend luck. Check to see if there are equivalent phrases in the language you choose. For instance, you might look up "informal well-wishes in Arabic".
  3. Choose multiple options. Maybe you are not preparing for a specific situation, such as a trip. If you are just being proactive about learning new phrases, good for you! There are several other factors you can consider when deciding which languages you want to choose.[1]
    • Consider the world population. For example, Mandarin Chinese is spoken by more than a billion people. It might set you apart professionally and personally if you can learn some helpful phrases in Mandarin.
    • Maybe you are looking for ways to show cultural sensitivity. Consider learning Arabic or Spanish, if you know people who speak those languages.

Learning to Say "Good Luck"

  1. Learn the phrase. Once you have chosen your language, it is time to figure out the words you need to learn. If you have chosen Spanish, for example, you'll want to use a website, book, or person to learn to say "good luck".[3]
    • Look for an online site that offers free language lessons. You can read about different sayings for wishing someone well.
    • A good website can also tell you about the cultural connotations of saying "good luck". You will likely not want to direct translate English colloquialisms like "Knock 'em dead."
    • You can also use tools like Google translate to help you figure out the literal words you want to say.
  2. Practice your pronunciation. Pronunciation is key when speaking different languages. If you mispronounce a word or phrase, you might look silly, or you might even be unintentionally offensive. Take care to spend time carefully studying how to say each word in your new vocabulary.[4]
    • Maybe you want to learn to say "good luck" in French. You will want to start by studying the French alphabet and learning what each letter sounds like.
    • Next, find a pronunciation guide. You can find these online or in reference books. If you have a text book, there is likely a comprehensive pronunciation guide in the index.
    • Listen to audio clips. Even free online courses will generally have recordings that you can listen to to help you understand pronunciation of your chosen language.
  3. Ask for help. Learning a new language can be tricky. Even if you're only looking to figure out a few handy phrases, you might still feel like you could use assistance.There are several ways you can get the help you need.[5]
    • Ask a teacher. If you are in school, ask your foreign language teacher for help. If you aren't currently a student, do an online search for language tutors in your area.
    • Post on message boards. A lot of the free online language boards will let you ask questions on their site. You might write something like, "I'm having trouble with the pronunciation of "good luck" in Arabic. Can anyone offer some tips?"
  4. Try out your new skill. The best way to hone your skills is to get some practice. Try wishing your friends "good luck" in multiple languages. You could even write your mom a note wishing her well in several ways. She'd probably appreciate it![6]
    • Don't worry about being perfect. Learning new phrases can be tricky. Be patient with yourself and just keep trying.
    • If you're going on an international trip, practice your phrases before you leave. Say them out loud to yourself in the mirror. You'll feel more confident in no time!

Tips

  • Practice. If you continue memorizing, then there's no reason why you wouldn't remember the word/s.
  • Associate the foreign word with a word in your language that sounds similar. Try using a mental picture of that word to help retain the memory.

Related Articles

Sources and Citations

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 https://jakubmarian.com/how-to-choose-a-language-to-learn/
  2. ↑ http://ell.stackexchange.com/questions/4430/is-this-the-correct-way-to-wish-a-friend-luck
  3. ↑ http://www.brighthubeducation.com/spanish-lesson-plans/65976-teaching-expressions-of-good-luck/
  4. ↑ http://takelessons.com/blog/french-pronunciation-online-resources-z04
  5. ↑ http://www.fluentin3months.com/free-online-spanish-language-lessons/
  6. ↑ http://blog.mangolanguages.com/no-excuses/
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