Cool MateUnfortunate vs Your luck's not that good
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Unfortunate
Top 2,000 (common)B2adjective
Your luck's not that good
InformalTop 2,000 (common)
Most formal: Unfortunate
| Unfortunate | Your luck's not that good | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ʌnˈfɔːtʃənət/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ʌnˈfɔːrtʃənət/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //jʊə lʌks nɒt ðæt gʊd//🇺🇸 //jʊr lʌks nɑt ðæt ɡʊd// |
| Meaning | Something bad that happens. | Good luck doesn't happen often for you. |
| Example | He was unfortunate to lose in the final round. | Don't get your hopes up; your luck's not that good when it comes to gambling. |
| Register | Neutral | Informal |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | B2 | - |
| Part of speech | adjective | |
| Collocations | be, seem, consider somebody/something, extremely, fairly, very, be, seem, consider somebody/something, extremely, fairly, very, be, seem, consider somebody/something, extremely, fairly, very | good luck, bad luck, your luck, not good |
| Antonyms | fortunate, lucky | - |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'unfortunate' vs 'unfortunately' — remember one is an adjective and the other is an adverb., Using 'unfortunate' as a noun. It should only be an adjective., Forget to use it in the right contexts; use instead of just saying 'bad'. | Confusing with 'Your luck is not that good' (less colloquial)., Using in formal situations., Not understanding the tone, which is often sarcastic. |
| Usage notes | Use 'unfortunate' to describe situations or events that have a negative outcome. It's neutral, but avoid it in very casual conversations where simpler terms like 'bad' might be more common. | Used to express skepticism about someone's positive expectations. Best in casual conversations, not suitable for formal contexts. |
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Frequently asked questions: Unfortunate vs Your luck's not that good
What's the difference between Unfortunate and Your luck's not that good?
Unfortunate: Something bad that happens. Your luck's not that good: Good luck doesn't happen often for you.
Which is more formal: Unfortunate and Your luck's not that good?
Unfortunate is the most formal of these.
Can you show an example of each?
Unfortunate: He was unfortunate to lose in the final round. Your luck's not that good: Don't get your hopes up; your luck's not that good when it comes to gambling.
Can I use Unfortunate and Your luck's not that good interchangeably?
Not always. Unfortunate and Your luck's not that good 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.