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 exactly like it looks: pekh, with a sharp clearing-of-the-throat “ch” at the end (as in 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.”

Interestingly, Pech also used to mean tar or pitch, which shares the same black, sticky negativity metaphorically—but in modern use, the word is all about misfortune. The opposite is clearly das Glück—“good luck” or simply “luck”—a word that often dances hand-in-hand with Pech in German expressions.

You’ll also see Pechvogel (literally “bad-luck bird”), which is what you call someone who always seems to have the worst luck. It’s often used affectionately or sympathetically, not as an insult.

Example Sentences

Ich hatte Pech mit dem Wetter – es hat den ganzen Urlaub geregnet.
I had bad luck with the weather—it rained the entire vacation.

Was für ein Pech, dass du den Bus verpasst hast!
What bad luck that you missed the bus!

Er ist wirklich ein Pechvogel – ständig passiert ihm etwas.
He’s really unlucky—something always goes wrong for him.

Beginner Dialogue

Anna: Wie lief dein Vorstellungsgespräch?
Ben: Total Pech – der Zug hatte Verspätung und ich kam zu spät.

Translation
Anna: How did your job interview go?
Ben: Total bad luck—the train was delayed and I arrived late.

Duden entry:
https://www.duden.de/rechtschreibung/Pech

Want to learn more emotional or expressive vocabulary?
Explore Öffentlichkeit to talk about what’s open and exposed to everyone.
Or revisit Pilot for confidence, control, and a word that soars.

Viel Erfolg beim Deutschlernen – and may your path be free of Bad Luck in German from here on out.