The German Word for Bad Luck Is Surprisingly Casual

Everyone has one of those days - your coffee spills, the train is late, and then it rains. That’s when you’ll want to know how to say Bad Luck in German. The word is das Pech, and it’s one of the 1000 most frequently used nouns in German for good reason. From casual complaints to emotional conversations, Pech is how Germans sum up all the little (and not-so-little) misfortunes life throws your way.

Pech is a neuter noun - das Pech - and it’s pronounced [pɛç]: the ch is the soft “ich” sound, not the throaty ch of Bach or Loch. If the whole gender system still feels like bad luck to you, our quick video lesson on der, die, das will help you get back on your feet fast.

In German, Pech refers specifically to unlucky outcomes, not general sadness or disappointment. It’s used in phrases like So ein Pech! (“What bad luck!”), Ich hatte Pech bei der Prüfung (“I had bad luck on the exam”), or Pech im Spiel, Glück in der Liebe-a common saying meaning “unlucky in games, lucky in love.” And the classic shrug: Pech gehabt! (Tough luck!)

Interestingly, Pech also still means pitch, a sticky substance; in southern German and Austrian usage it can mean resin. The bad-luck meaning and Pechvogel are related. The opposite is clearly das Glück - “good luck” or simply “luck” - a word that often dances hand-in-hand with Pech in German expressions.