- Do you often feel unsure if you should say “make a fortune” or “do a fortune”?
- Have you ever wondered if “good fortune” is the same as “lucky fortune”?
- Are you trying to sound more natural and fluent when talking about luck, success, or wealth?
Mastering collocations, which are words that naturally go together, is a cornerstone of achieving fluency in English. Instead of simply knowing individual words, understanding how they pair with others like “fortune” allows you to express yourself more precisely and sound like a native speaker. Let’s unlock the power of English collocations with “fortune” to elevate your language skills!
Essential Collocations using Fortune as a Noun
The word “fortune” is a versatile noun with two primary meanings: either luck/destiny (good or bad) or a large amount of wealth/money. Understanding these nuances is key to using its collocations correctly.
Collocations Related to Luck and Destiny
In these phrases, “fortune” refers to chance, fate, or the outcome of events.
- Good fortune: Favorable luck or circumstances.
- Example: “After months of searching, she finally found her dream job, attributing it to good fortune.”
- Bad fortune / Ill fortune: Unfavorable luck or adverse circumstances.
- Example: “Despite facing much bad fortune, he never gave up on his entrepreneurial dream.”
- Stroke of fortune: A sudden and unexpected piece of good luck.
- Example: “Winning the lottery was a complete stroke of fortune for the struggling family.”
- Tell someone’s fortune: To predict someone’s future, often through mystical means.
- Example: “At the fair, a mystic offered to tell her fortune by reading her palm.”
- Bring good/bad fortune: To cause or lead to good or bad luck.
- Example: “Many cultures believe that breaking a mirror can bring bad fortune.”
- By good/ill fortune: By means of good or bad luck; accidentally.
- Example: “By good fortune, we arrived at the airport just before our flight was cancelled.”
- Change one’s fortune: To alter one’s luck or circumstances, usually for the better.
- Example: “He hoped that his new business venture would finally change his fortune.”
Collocations Related to Wealth and Money
Here, “fortune” specifically refers to a very large amount of money or assets.
- Make a fortune: To earn or acquire a very large amount of money.
- Example: “She managed to make a fortune by investing wisely in technology startups.”
- Amass a fortune: To accumulate a large amount of wealth over time.
- Example: “Through careful planning and hard work, he amassed a fortune in real estate.”
- Inherit a fortune: To receive a large amount of money or property from someone who has died.
- Example: “After his grandmother passed away, he unexpectedly inherited a fortune.”
- Cost a fortune: To be extremely expensive.
- Example: “That antique watch must have cost a fortune; it’s absolutely exquisite.”
- Spend a fortune: To spend a very large amount of money.
- Example: “They decided to spend a fortune on their dream wedding in Italy.”
- Be worth a fortune: To have a very high monetary value.
- Example: “The rare painting discovered in the attic turned out to be worth a fortune.”
- Squander a fortune: To waste a large amount of money, often recklessly.
- Example: “Despite inheriting so much, he quickly squandered his fortune on extravagant parties.”
- Come into a fortune: To receive a large amount of money, typically unexpectedly or through inheritance.
- Example: “She suddenly came into a fortune when a distant relative passed away.”
Master Summary Table: Key Collocations with Fortune
This table summarizes the most common and useful collocations, helping you quickly review their meanings and usage.
| Collocation | Part of Speech | Quick Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Good fortune | Noun phrase | Favorable luck |
| Bad / Ill fortune | Noun phrase | Unfavorable luck |
| Stroke of fortune | Noun phrase | Sudden good luck |
| Tell someone’s fortune | Verb phrase | Predict the future |
| Make a fortune | Verb phrase | Become very rich |
| Amass a fortune | Verb phrase | Accumulate wealth |
| Inherit a fortune | Verb phrase | Receive wealth after death |
| Cost a fortune | Verb phrase | Be very expensive |
| Spend a fortune | Verb phrase | Spend a lot of money |
| Be worth a fortune | Verb phrase | Be very valuable |
| Squander a fortune | Verb phrase | Waste a lot of money |
Common Mistakes: Natural vs Unnatural
Avoid these common pitfalls to ensure your English sounds authentic and fluent when using “fortune.”
| Do Not Say | Say This |
|---|---|
| Do a fortune | Make a fortune (if creating wealth) |
| Have a big fortune | Have a large/vast/considerable fortune or be worth a fortune |
| Pay a fortune | Cost a fortune (from the item’s perspective) or spend a fortune (from your perspective) |
| Fortune good | Good fortune |
| He got a fortune | He made a fortune / He came into a fortune / He inherited a fortune |
| Waste a lot of fortune | Squander a fortune / Waste a fortune |
“After years of dedicated work, Sarah finally managed to make a fortune in the tech industry. It wasn’t just a stroke of fortune; she had worked tirelessly. Her family had always hoped she would change her fortune, and she certainly did. She chose not to squander her fortune, but instead to invest wisely and even dedicated a portion to charity, which she considered her true good fortune.”
Frequently Asked Questions about Fortune Collocations
What is the difference between “good fortune” and “good luck”?
While often interchangeable, “good fortune” (or “ill fortune”) tends to sound slightly more formal, literary, or emphasizes destiny/circumstance rather than just random chance. “Good luck” is very common and can refer to a single event or general good outcomes. Both are perfectly acceptable in modern English, but “good fortune” carries a subtle gravitas.
Can “fortune” refer to a small amount of money?
No, “fortune” specifically implies a very large or significant amount of money or wealth. If something “costs a fortune,” it means it’s extremely expensive. For smaller amounts, you would use words like “a lot of money” or “quite a bit of money.”
Are there any common prepositions used with “fortune” that learners should know?
Yes, prepositions are important! Some common examples include:
- “By good/ill fortune” (meaning by chance/luck)
- “Come into a fortune” (to inherit or win)
- “Leave a fortune to someone” (to bequeath)
- “Seek one’s fortune in a place” (to look for wealth/success)
Is “fortune teller” still a common term in 2024?
Yes, “fortune teller” is still a widely recognized and used term to describe someone who claims to predict the future. While some might use alternatives like “psychic” or “clairvoyant,” “fortune teller” remains a very common and understood collocation, especially in casual contexts or for traditional forms of prediction like palmistry or tarot reading.
Are there any common proverbs or sayings in English that use the word 'fortune'? I love learning expressions like that!
What a great question, Samir! One of the most famous proverbs using 'fortune' is: 'Fortune favors the bold.' This means that success or good luck is more likely to come to those who are brave and take risks. It's a classic example of 'fortune' referring to destiny or luck. Keep exploring these wonderful expressions!
This reminds me of other common collocation pitfalls, like 'make a mistake' vs 'do a mistake'. Thanks for consistently highlighting why understanding these word pairings is so important for natural speech. It's truly a cornerstone of fluency!
So, 'bad fortune' is more common than 'ill fortune'? Or are they completely interchangeable? Just trying to sound as natural as possible.
You're right to ask, Diego! Both 'bad fortune' and 'ill fortune' mean unfavorable luck, and they are largely interchangeable. However, 'bad fortune' is generally more common and informal in everyday speech. 'Ill fortune' tends to sound a bit more formal, literary, or archaic. For most conversational contexts, 'bad fortune' will sound more natural, but 'ill fortune' is perfectly correct and can add a specific tone.
Can 'fortune' be used in a negative sense regarding wealth, like 'lose a fortune' or 'squander a fortune'? The article focused on the positive aspect of wealth (making it).
Absolutely, Priya! You've identified a very important point. 'Lose a fortune' and 'squander a fortune' are both excellent and common collocations. 'Lose a fortune' refers to a reduction in wealth, often through bad investments or misfortune. 'Squander a fortune' implies wasting a large amount of money unwisely. Other negative collocations include 'run through a fortune' and 'gamble away a fortune.' Thanks for bringing this up!
Is 'fortune smiled on him' a collocation or more of an idiomatic expression? It always sounds so poetic to me.
That's a great observation, Kenji! 'Fortune smiled on him' is indeed an idiomatic expression, often considered a personification, where 'fortune' (as destiny or luck) is given the human quality of 'smiling.' While it uses the word 'fortune,' it's not a standard noun-adjective or verb-noun collocation in the same way 'good fortune' or 'make a fortune' are. It's a beautiful and common way to express that someone had very good luck.
I appreciate the clear distinction between 'fortune' as luck and 'fortune' as wealth. It's often a point of confusion for my students, and this article provides a great framework for understanding. Thank you!
We're so glad to hear that, Isabel! Providing clear distinctions for commonly confused words or concepts is exactly what we aim for. Understanding the different facets of 'fortune' is indeed a great step towards more precise and natural English usage. We hope your students find it as helpful as you do!
Collocations are my biggest weakness! This article is super helpful, especially the clear examples. I often translate word-for-word from my language, and it usually sounds very unnatural.
What about the phrase 'seek one's fortune'? Does that fall under the 'luck and destiny' category, or is it more about finding wealth? I've heard it in old stories.
That's a fantastic example, Sophie! 'Seek one's fortune' perfectly blends both meanings. It implies going out into the world to find both opportunities for success (which includes wealth) and favorable circumstances or destiny. So, it definitely fits within the broader 'luck and destiny' category, but with a strong undertone of seeking prosperity. It's often used in adventurous or historical contexts.
Besides 'make a fortune,' are there other common verbs used with 'fortune' when we're talking about a large amount of money? Like 'build a fortune' or 'earn a fortune'?
Excellent question, Jin! Yes, 'make a fortune' is the most common, but 'build a fortune' is also very natural, often implying a gradual process of accumulation over time. 'Earn a fortune' specifically highlights the effort and work involved. Other good ones include 'inherit a fortune' (to receive money or property from someone who has died) and 'amass a fortune' (to collect a large amount of money or possessions over a period of time). Each carries a slightly different nuance!
Can I say 'have good fortune' or 'experience good fortune'? Is that natural sounding? Or is 'find good fortune' the most common way?
Yes, Maria, 'have good fortune' and 'experience good fortune' are both perfectly natural and common expressions! 'Have good fortune' is very direct, e.g., 'He had the good fortune to meet his future wife at a conference.' 'Experience good fortune' adds a slight emphasis on the duration or nature of the fortunate events. 'Find good fortune' is also used, often implying a search or discovery aspect. All are correct!