English.me

Lucky vs. fortunate: what’s the difference?

The short answer

Lucky often implies a more random or chance-based positive outcome, while fortunate can suggest a broader or more stable state of having good fortune or being well-off. Fortunate can feel slightly more formal than lucky.

What they have in common

Both lucky and fortunate describe a situation or condition where someone experiences good outcomes or favorable situations often without explicit effort or expectation.

Examples

lucky

  • She was lucky to find her keys under the couch.
  • He’s always been lucky with weather on his vacations.
  • You were lucky to have caught the last train home.

fortunate

  • They were fortunate to have avoided the storm.
  • She feels fortunate to have such supportive friends.
  • We are fortunate to have good health care.

Which one is more common?

Internet search results for “lucky” and “fortunate”

Bạn phát hiện lỗi trong bài viết này? Báo cho chúng tôi