Italian · Greetings & Essentials
"Good luck!" in Italian: buona fortuna
buona fortuna
Note: informal: in bocca al lupo
Good luck in Italian is buona fortuna (BWAH-nah for-TOO-nah). Before exams and shows you may also hear in bocca al lupo—answer crepi!
Before an interview
Buona fortuna per il colloquio!Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce buona fortuna
Say it
BWAH-nah for-TOO-nah
/ˈbwɔ.na forˈtu.na/
Fortuna stresses TOO: for-TOO-nah. Buona is BWAH-nah.
"Good luck!" in Italian: quick reference
| Italian | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| buona fortuna | good luck General wish. | General wish. |
| in bocca al lupo | break a leg / good luck Theatre and exams. | Theatre and exams. |
| crepi! | reply to in bocca al lupo Traditional answer. | Traditional answer. |
| ti auguro buona fortuna | I wish you good luck Fuller sentence. | Fuller sentence. |
How to use buona fortuna in real life
- 1Before an interview
Buona fortuna per il colloquio!
Good luck with the interview!
Full phrase + per.
- 2Exam morning
Ti auguro buona fortuna oggi.
I wish you good luck today.
Buona fortuna inside a sentence.
- 3Quick goodbye
Vai e… buona fortuna!
Go and… good luck!
Standalone wish.
Mistakes English speakers make with buona fortuna
Incorrect: Buono fortuna!
Correct: Buona fortuna!
Fortuna is feminine: buona.
Incorrect: Good luck per l'esame!
Correct: Buona fortuna per l'esame!
Use the Italian phrase.
Good to know
Buona fortuna is warm and clear. Theatre people prefer in bocca al lupo and avoid saying buona fortuna backstage—different superstition, same care for the person performing.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Sending a friend into a driving test
ChatPal
Oggi è il giorno: buona fortuna!
Today's the day: good luck!
You
Grazie… mi serve proprio buona fortuna.
Thanks… I really need good luck.
ChatPal
Respira. Ci vediamo dopo fuori dall'ufficio.
Breathe. See you after outside the office.
You
Ok, vado.
Ok, I'm going.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Good luck!" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Good luck!" in Italian
Buona fortuna or in bocca al lupo?
Both wish luck. In bocca al lupo is classic before performances and many exams.
How do I reply to in bocca al lupo?
Crepi! (or crepi il lupo).
How do I add a reason?
Buona fortuna per + noun: per l'esame, per la gara.
Is fortuna feminine?
Yes—hence buona fortuna.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
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