Phrase guide

fortune favors the bold

proverb · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

proverb

Meaning 1

Luck is usually on the side of those who take chances and risks.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Calque of Latin fortis Fortūna adiuvat (“fortune helps the strong”)

Across languages

Translations

29 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 勇者成功 (yǒng zhě chénggōng) — luck favors the adventurous
  • Czech: odvážnému štěstí přeje — luck favors the adventurous
  • Danish: lykken står den kække bi — luck favors the adventurous
  • Dutch: de brutalen hebben de halve wereld — luck favors the adventurous
  • Finnish: onni suosii rohkeaa — luck favors the adventurous
  • French: la fortune sourit aux audacieux — luck favors the adventurous
  • German: das Glück hilft den Tapferen — luck favors the adventurous
  • Greek: η τύχη βοηθά τους τολμηρούς (i týchi voïthá tous tolmiroús) — luck favors the adventurous
  • Hungarian: bátraké a szerencse — luck favors the adventurous
  • Italian: la fortuna aiuta gli audaci — luck favors the adventurous
  • Japanese: 運命の女神は勇者に味方する (unmei no megami wa yūsha ni mikata suru) — luck favors the adventurous
  • Japanese: 幸運は勇者を好む (kōun wa yūsha wo konomu) — luck favors the adventurous
  • Korean: 호혈호자 (hohyeolhoja) — luck favors the adventurous
  • Korean: 자구다복 (jagudabok) — luck favors the adventurous
  • Latin: fortis Fortuna adiuvat — luck favors the adventurous
  • Norwegian Bokmål: lykken står den kjekke bi — luck favors the adventurous
  • Old English: wyrd fultumaþ þone bealdan — luck favors the adventurous
  • Persian: شانس به قدرتمند کمک میکند — luck favors the adventurous
  • Polish: śmiałym szczęście sprzyja — luck favors the adventurous
  • Portuguese: a sorte favorece os audazes — luck favors the adventurous
  • Russian: кто не риску́ет, тот не пьёт шампа́нское (kto ne riskújet, tot ne pʹjot šampánskoje) — luck favors the adventurous
  • Russian: сме́лым судьба́ помога́ет (smélym sudʹbá pomogájet) — luck favors the adventurous
  • Russian: судьба́ благоприя́тствует сме́лым (sudʹbá blagoprijátstvujet smélym) — luck favors the adventurous
  • Scottish Gaelic: sealbhan an cuideachd nan treun — luck favors the adventurous
  • Spanish: a los osados, ayuda la fortuna — luck favors the adventurous
  • Spanish: la fortuna favorece a los audaces — luck favors the adventurous
  • Spanish: la fortuna favorece a los valientes — luck favors the adventurous
  • Swedish: lyckan står den djärve bi — luck favors the adventurous
  • Turkish: şans cesurdan yanadır — luck favors the adventurous