Short answer
“good luck” in Russian is Удачи
How to say good luck in Russian?
How to say good luck in Russian: the standard phrase is Удачи (oo-DA-chee), the genitive of удача ('luck') and a short version of желаю удачи ('I wish you luck'). Use Удачи! alone for everyday situations — before an exam, a trip, or a meeting. For a more formal or complete wish, say Желаю удачи. For a playful traditional send-off, Russians also use Ни пуха ни пера! and the other person answers К чёрту! ('to the devil!').
Common pairings
Удачи на экзаменеУдачи в путижелаю удачи в новом делени пуха ни пера перед выступлением
How to use it
- Удачи! is the default all-purpose expression. It is fine with friends, colleagues and strangers; add тебе (informal) or вам (polite/plural) to say 'good luck to you'.
- Желаю удачи is more complete and formal, so it is better for emails, official messages, and situations where you want to sound deliberate and courteous.
- Ни пуха ни пера is casual and playful, so save it for friends, exams, performances or anything where the mood is light. The traditional reply is К чёрту!
Examples
Удачи тебе!
Good luck to you!
Удачи (oo-DA-chee) is the short everyday wish; тебе means 'to you' in an informal tone.
Желаю удачи на экзамене.
I wish you luck on the exam.
Желаю удачи (zhe-LA-yu oo-DA-chee) is the full form; на экзамене (na ek-ZA-mye-ne) means 'on the exam'.
Ни пуха ни пера!
Break a leg!
Literally 'neither fluff nor feather' — a traditional reverse wish before a test or performance. The usual answer is К чёрту!
Удачи в пути!
Have a good trip!
Удачи (oo-DA-chee) plus в пути (v poo-TEE) 'on the way' makes a natural wish for a journey.
Common mistakes
| Wrong | Correct | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Удачи! | Удачи is the genitive case because the full phrase is желаю удачи ('I wish you luck'). The nominative Удача! is not used as a wish and sounds like a label. | |
| Ни пуха ни пера | 'Break a leg' is an English idiom with no literal Russian equivalent. The Russian equivalent is ни пуха ни пера. |
| Unnatural | Natural | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Удачи | In English you say 'good luck', but in Russian the word удача already means good luck; adding хорошей ('good') makes the phrase redundant and unidiomatic. |
FAQ
- How to say good luck in Russian?Say Удачи (oo-DA-chee) — it is the standard, all-purpose expression. It comes from the longer желаю удачи, which means 'I wish you luck'.
- Can I say Удачи in formal situations?Yes, Удачи is acceptable in most everyday contexts. If you want to sound more formal or complete, say Желаю удачи or Желаю успехов.
- What should I answer when someone says ни пуха ни пера?The traditional answer is К чёрту! ('to the devil!'). It is part of the playful ritual between two people.
- Is ни пуха ни пера appropriate for all situations?No, it is casual and playful, so it is best for tests, performances, or friendly occasions. For formal or professional settings, stick with Удачи or Желаю удачи.