How to Say Good Luck in Spanish (+ Variations You'll Hear)

To say “good luck” in Spanish, say ¡Buena suerte! — pronounced BWEH-nah SWEHR-teh — or simply ¡Suerte! for short, which is what you’ll hear most often in everyday Mexican conversation. Friend heading into a job interview? ¡Suerte! Cousin about to take her driving test? ¡Buena suerte! It’s warm, it’s universal, and it’s impossible to get wrong.

But Mexicans have a richer toolbox for wishing someone well, and some of the best options don’t mention luck at all. Let’s walk through them so you can pick the one that fits.

The main way to say it

¡Buena suerte! — BWEH-nah SWEHR-teh

Pronunciation pointers:

• Buena starts with a “bw” glide: BWEH-nah. Two syllables, stress on the first.
• Suerte has the Spanish “ue” diphthong: SWEHR-teh. Roll or tap the r lightly if you can; if not, a soft English “r” is understood.
• The final e in suerte is a crisp “eh,” never a silent “e” or an “ee.”

In quick, casual speech, Mexicans very often drop the buena and just say ¡Suerte! as someone walks out the door. You can also make it bigger: ¡Mucha suerte! (lots of luck!) or wrap it in a full sentence: Te deseo mucha suerte (I wish you lots of luck — a touch more formal, great for messages).

Variations

Spanish	Pronunciation	When to use it
¡Suerte!	SWEHR-teh	Quick and casual, the everyday default
¡Mucha suerte!	MOO-chah SWEHR-teh	Extra warmth: “lots of luck!”
Te deseo mucha suerte	teh deh-SEH-oh MOO-chah SWEHR-teh	Slightly formal; perfect in texts and emails
¡Éxito!	EK-see-toh	”Success!” — very common in Latin America for exams, interviews, presentations
¡Que te vaya bien!	keh teh VAH-yah byen	”May it go well for you!” — said as someone leaves
¡Que te vaya bonito!	keh teh VAH-yah boh-NEE-toh	A sweeter, very Mexican version of the above
¡Échale ganas!	EH-chah-leh GAH-nahs	Mexican classic: “give it your all!”
¡Ánimo!	AH-nee-moh	”You’ve got this!” — encouragement when someone’s nervous or down
Cruzo los dedos	KROO-soh lohs DEH-dohs	”I’m crossing my fingers”

Two of these deserve a spotlight because they’re so deeply Mexican:

¡Échale ganas! literally means “throw effort at it.” It shifts the focus from luck to grit — you’re telling someone to give it everything they’ve got. Parents say it to kids before exams, friends say it before a big game, and it always lands as supportive rather than bossy.

¡Que te vaya bien! is technically a farewell (“may things go well for you”), but in practice it doubles as a good-luck wish whenever someone is leaving to do something — an interview, a trip, a first date. If they’re leaving, this is often more natural than buena suerte.

Hear it in context

Before a job interview:

— Mañana tengo la entrevista para el trabajo nuevo. — ¡No me digas! ¿A qué hora? — A las nueve de la mañana. Estoy nerviosa. — Tranquila, te va a ir muy bien. ¡Échale ganas y mucha suerte!

— Tomorrow I have the interview for the new job. — No way! What time? — At nine in the morning. I’m nervous. — Relax, it’s going to go great. Give it your all, and good luck!

A student leaving for an exam:

— Ya me voy, tengo examen de matemáticas. — ¡Suerte! ¿Estudiaste? — Toda la noche. — Entonces no es suerte, es talento. ¡Que te vaya bonito!

— I’m off, I have a math exam. — Good luck! Did you study? — All night. — Then it’s not luck, it’s talent. Hope it goes beautifully!

Common mistakes

• Saying “buen suerte.” Suerte is feminine, so the adjective must agree: buena suerte. This is one of the most common learner slips, and native ears catch it instantly.
• Translating “break a leg” literally. “Rómpete una pierna” means someone genuinely wants your leg broken. In Mexican theater circles, the traditional phrase is the cheeky ¡Mucha mierda! — but that’s insider slang; outside the stage, just say ¡Mucha suerte!
• Using “¡Que te vaya bien!” when nobody is going anywhere. It’s tied to departures. If your friend is nervous but staying put, use ¡Ánimo! or ¡Suerte! instead.
• Forgetting ¡Éxito! exists. For anything achievement-flavored — thesis defense, pitch, recital — ¡Éxito! often sounds more polished than suerte, because it wishes success rather than chance.
• Flat delivery. These phrases carry their warmth in the intonation. A monotone “buena suerte” can sound sarcastic, the way a flat “good luck with that” does in English.

Related phrases

Good wishes travel in packs — here are the natural companions:

• How to say Cheers in Spanish — for when the good luck pays off and it’s time to celebrate
• How to say Merry Christmas in Spanish — seasonal well-wishing, Mexican style
• How to say Welcome in Spanish — greet people as warmly as you send them off

For more everyday expressions, browse our guides to common Spanish phrases and Spanish greetings.

FAQ

What’s the difference between ¡Suerte! and ¡Éxito!? ¡Suerte! wishes luck; ¡Éxito! wishes success. Both work before exams or interviews, but ¡Éxito! subtly implies the outcome depends on the person’s ability, which many people find more encouraging.

Is “¡Échale ganas!” rude or pushy? Not at all — in Mexico it’s affectionate encouragement, like “go get ‘em!” Tone matters, but it’s a phrase families and friends use constantly.

How do I respond when someone wishes me good luck? A simple ¡Gracias! works everywhere. Warmer: Gracias, ojalá me vaya bien (Thanks, I hope it goes well).

Can I say “buena suerte” sarcastically like in English? Yes — “pues… buena suerte” with a shrug reads exactly like “well… good luck with that.” Delivery is everything.

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Nervous about actually saying these out loud? Practice a mock pep talk with Sofia — an AI Spanish tutor from Mexico who’ll cheer you on and fix your pronunciation as you go.