Luck and Chance in Spain
Wish people luck, touch wood and talk about good and bad luck like a Spaniard.
Spaniards wish 'mucha suerte', touch wood with 'toco madera' and believe Tuesday the 13th, not Friday, is the unlucky day. Colloquially, luck can be 'potra', and someone always unlucky is 'gafado'. The cards follow two friends in Valladolid: the night before a job interview on a Tuesday the 13th, a race for concert tickets, and a small lottery win.
- 1
Yo cruzo los dedos, a ver qué pasa.
I've got my fingers crossed, let's see what happens.
- 2
Deséame suerte, que la voy a necesitar.
Wish me luck, I'm going to need it.
- 3
¡Mucha suerte mañana!
Good luck tomorrow!
- 4
De momento todo bien, toco madera.
So far so good, touch wood.
- 5
¡Qué suerte tienes!
You're so lucky!
- 6
¡Vaya mala suerte!
What bad luck!
- 7
Tiene una potra increíble.
He's incredibly jammy.
- 8
Ha sido pura suerte.
It was pure luck.
- 9
Me lo encontré por casualidad.
I bumped into him by chance.
- 10
A la tercera va la vencida.
Third time lucky.
- 11
No hay dos sin tres.
Things come in threes.
- 12
En España el día de mala suerte es el martes y trece.
In Spain, the unlucky day is Tuesday the 13th.
- 13
Creo que estoy gafado.
I think I'm jinxed.
- 14
¡No lo gafes!
Don't jinx it!
- 15
Con un poco de suerte, pillamos entradas.
With a bit of luck, we'll get tickets.
- 16
¡Me han tocado cien euros en la lotería!
I've won a hundred euros on the lottery!
- 17
A ver si hay suerte.
Let's see if we get lucky.
- 18
¡Ojalá que sí!
I really hope so!
- 19
Es cuestión de suerte.
It's a matter of luck.
- 20
Hoy estoy de suerte.
I'm in luck today.