Definition
Happening by chance or luck; fortunate or lucky in a way that seems accidental or unplanned.
Etymology
From Latin 'fortunosus', related to 'fortuna' (fortune, chance). Though it resembles 'fortuitous', it has a distinct root emphasizing the role of Lady Luck rather than mere chance or coincidence.
Kelly Says
Many people confuse 'fortuitous' (meaning 'by chance') with 'fortunate' (meaning 'lucky'), and 'fortunous' bridges these meanings—it's genuinely rare in modern English, which shows how language gradually abandons synonyms that compete for the same space.
Translations
ARالعربية
مُحْتَشَر
mu-ḥta-shar
CSČeština
štěstí
sh-tes-tee
DEDeutsch
glücklich
gluck-lich
ESEspañol
afortunado
a-for-tu-na-do
FAفارسی
خوشبخت
khoosh-bakht
FISuomi
onnellinen
on-nel-li-nen
FRFrançais
chanceux
shan-seuh
HEעברית
מזל טוב
ma-zal tov
HIहिन्दी
सौभाग्यशाली
sau-bha-ga-ya-sha-lee
IDBahasa Indonesia
beruntung
ber-untung
ITItaliano
fortunato
for-tu-na-to
KKKK
тіршілік
tir-shi-lik
KMKM
ព្រះពុទ្ធ
preah-puth
MSBahasa Melayu
bertuah
ber-tua-h
NLNederlands
gelukkig
gel-oo-k-lee
PLPolski
szczęśliwy
sz-che-s-lee-vee
PTPortuguês
sortudo
sor-tu-do
RORomână
fericit
fe-ri-sit
RUРусский
удачливый
oo-dach-li-vyy
SVSvenska
lycklig
loo-k-lig
SWKiswahili
bahati
ba-ha-ti
TAதமிழ்
நல்ல கதி
nal-la ka-thi
UKУкраїнська
щасливий
shchas-li-viy
URاردو
خوش قسمت
khoo-qis-mat
VITiếng Việt
may mắn
may-men
ZUZU
inkosana
in-ko-sa-na