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Vocabulary
خوش شانسی

A1 noun 9 min read

خوش شانسی

khosh shansi

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips خوش شانسی in 30 Seconds

Explanation خوش شانسی in your Level:

At the A1 level, you should recognize 'khosh shansi' as the standard way to say 'good luck'. You will mostly use it in simple sentences like 'I have good luck' or 'It was good luck'. The focus is on the basic compound: 'khosh' (good) + 'shansi' (luckiness). You should be able to distinguish it from 'bad-shansi' (bad luck). At this stage, learners often use it to express excitement about small positive events, such as finding a lost item or getting a correct answer on a quiz. You should also learn the shortened version 'shans' which is very common in daily greetings and reactions. For example, when someone tells you something good happened, you can simply respond with 'Che shansi!' (What luck!). This level is about building the association between the word and the positive feeling of a favorable outcome.

At the A2 level, you begin to use 'khosh shansi' with a wider variety of verbs beyond just 'to have'. You will learn the common expression 'khosh shansi āvardan', which literally means 'to bring good luck' but is translated as 'to get lucky'. You will also start to use the word with simple adjectives, such as 'khosh shansi-ye bozorg' (big good luck). You should be able to talk about luck in the past tense, describing lucky things that happened yesterday or last week. A2 learners should also be comfortable using 'khosh shansi' in the context of games and sports. You might say, 'In bāzi faghat khosh shansi bud' (This game was only good luck). You are also introduced to the possessive forms, like 'khosh shansi-ye man' (my good luck), allowing you to personalize the concept in conversation.

At the B1 level, you move beyond simple events and start using 'khosh shansi' to discuss more complex ideas. You can use it in conditional sentences (if/then), such as 'If I have good luck, I will travel to Iran next year'. You also start to recognize the word in more varied contexts, such as news reports or short stories. At this level, you should be able to explain *why* something was 'khosh shansi' using connectors like 'chon' (because). You will also learn the difference between 'khosh shansi' and 'movafaghiyat' (success), understanding that luck is often viewed as something external while success is internal. You can use the word to express modesty, attributing your achievements to 'khosh shansi' rather than just your own skill, which is a key cultural nuance in Persian-speaking societies.

At the B2 level, you are expected to use 'khosh shansi' with precision in both formal and informal registers. You will understand how it functions in more complex grammatical structures, such as using it as a subject in a passive sentence or within relative clauses. You should be familiar with common idioms and phrases that include the word, and you can participate in debates about the role of luck versus hard work. You will also start to encounter synonyms like 'eqbal' or 'bakht' in reading materials and should know when 'khosh shansi' is the more appropriate modern choice. Your ability to use 'khosh shansi' to set the tone of a story or a conversation—whether it's humorous, grateful, or skeptical—is a hallmark of this level.

At the C1 level, you have a deep understanding of the etymological roots of 'khosh shansi' and its place in the history of the Persian language's interaction with French. you can use the word in academic or philosophical discussions about determinism, probability, and fate. You will be able to analyze how the concept of 'khosh shansi' is portrayed in contemporary Iranian cinema and literature, noting how it differs from the classical Persian concept of 'bakht'. You can also use the word with subtle irony or sarcasm. Your vocabulary will include rare collocations and you will be able to substitute 'khosh shansi' with more sophisticated alternatives like 'sa'adat' or 'meymanat' when the context requires a high-level, formal register. You understand the sociological implications of 'luck' in Iranian culture.

At the C2 level, you possess a native-like command of 'khosh shansi' and all its nuances. You can effortlessly switch between the most casual slang and the most formal literary equivalents. You are capable of writing essays or giving presentations on the psychological impact of 'khosh shansi' on human behavior, using the word as a gateway to broader cultural and philosophical themes. You understand the rhythmic and phonetic qualities of the word in poetry and can use it in creative writing to evoke specific emotions. There are no grammatical or contextual limitations to your usage. You can even identify regional variations in how luck is discussed across the Persian-speaking world (Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan) and how 'khosh shansi' might be replaced by other local terms.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

خوش شانسی in 30 Seconds

خوش شانسی is the standard Persian term for 'good luck'.
It is a compound of 'Khosh' (good) and 'Shans' (chance/luck).
It is used with verbs like 'avardan' (to get lucky) and 'dashtan' (to be lucky).
It is a positive, common word used in everything from sports to daily life.

The Persian word خوش شانسی (pronounced 'khosh-shānsi') is a compound noun that serves as the quintessential expression for 'good luck' or 'good fortune' in the Persian-speaking world. To understand this word, one must look at its beautiful morphological construction. It combines the Persian prefix khosh (meaning 'good', 'pleasant', or 'happy') with the noun shāns, which was borrowed from the French word 'chance'. In Persian, adding the 'i' suffix at the end transforms the adjective 'lucky' into the abstract noun 'luckiness' or 'good fortune'.

Semantic Range: It covers everything from winning a small prize to narrowly avoiding a car accident. It is the opposite of 'bad-shansi' (bad luck).

Culturally, Iranians often attribute positive outcomes to a mix of hard work, divine will, and this specific concept of خوش شانسی. While some might use it casually to describe a coin toss, others use it more profoundly to describe the serendipitous meeting of a soulmate or a life-changing career opportunity. It is a word filled with positivity and a sense of gratitude for the unseen forces that align in one's favor.

پیدا کردن این شغل یک خوش شانسی بزرگ بود.
Finding this job was a great piece of good luck.

The usage of this word extends into various social registers. In a formal setting, such as a business news report, a commentator might speak of the 'khosh-shansi' of an investor during a market surge. In a more intimate setting, a mother might describe her child's 'khosh-shansi' in passing an exam they hadn't studied for. It is a versatile term that bridges the gap between the mystical concept of fate and the modern concept of statistical probability.

Grammatical Role: It functions as a noun. You can have it (dashtan), bring it (avardan), or describe a situation with it.

او همیشه در زندگی خوش شانسی می‌آورد.
He always brings (experiences) good luck in life.

Furthermore, the word is often associated with the phrase 'Shans-e dar-e khane-ye kasi ra zadan' (Luck knocking on someone's door). This imagery suggests that خوش شانسی is an external visitor that chooses when to arrive, making the experience of it feel like a special event rather than a permanent state of being. Whether you are playing a game of backgammon (Takhteh Nard) or navigating the complexities of Iranian bureaucracy, you will find yourself wishing for a bit of this 'good luck'.

Common Contexts: Lotteries, sports victories, escaping traffic, finding a parking spot in Tehran, and academic success.

با کمی خوش شانسی، ما برنده می‌شویم.
With a little good luck, we will win.

In summary, خوش شانسی is more than just a translation of 'luck'; it is a cultural marker of optimism. It reflects a linguistic history of borrowing and adaptation, and it serves as a daily tool for Persians to express their hopes and their gratitude for the positive turns of life.

Using خوش شانسی correctly requires understanding its relationship with various Persian verbs. Unlike English, where you 'are lucky', in Persian, you often 'bring good luck' (khosh shansi āvardan) or 'have good luck' (khosh shansi dāshtan).

With 'Avardan' (To Bring): This is used for specific events. If you found money on the street, you would say 'Emruz khosh shansi āvardam' (Today I brought good luck / I got lucky).

تیم ما در دقایق آخر خوش شانسی آورد.
Our team got lucky in the final minutes.

When you want to describe a person as being inherently lucky, you use the adjective form 'khosh shans', but when discussing the concept itself, the noun 'khosh shansi' is the subject. For instance, you might say 'Khosh shansi joz'i az movafaghiyat ast' (Good luck is a part of success).

Possessive Structures: You can attach possessive endings: khosh-shansi-am (my luck), khosh-shansi-at (your luck).

همه این‌ها از خوش شانسی شماست.
All of this is because of your good luck.

In complex sentences, 'khosh shansi' can act as the object of a preposition. For example, 'Ba tavajoh be khosh shansi-ash...' (Considering his good luck...). It is also frequently used in hypothetical scenarios involving 'agar' (if). 'Agar khosh shansi biavaram...' (If I get lucky...).

Formal vs Informal: In formal writing, use the full 'khosh shansi'. In casual speech, 'shans' is often sufficient, but 'khosh shansi' adds emphasis to how positive the luck was.

او به خوش شانسی اعتقاد زیادی دارد.
He believes in good luck a lot.

Another interesting usage is in the negative sense to emphasize what was lacking. 'Bedun-e hich khosh shansi-i' (Without any good luck). This highlights the difficulty of a task. The word is incredibly flexible, appearing in poetry, pop songs, and scientific discussions about probability.

If you walk through the bustling streets of Tehran or sit in a café in Isfahan, you will hear the word خوش شانسی or its root 'shans' constantly. It is deeply embedded in the social fabric of daily life. One of the most common places to hear it is in the context of traffic and transportation.

The Taxi Culture: Passengers often comment on their 'khosh shansi' if they find a taxi immediately during rush hour or if they avoid a heavy traffic jam by taking a side street.

چه خوش شانسی بزرگی که به ترافیک نخوردیم!
What great luck that we didn't hit traffic!

In Iranian sports broadcasting, particularly football (soccer), commentators frequently use 'khosh shansi' to describe a ball hitting the post or a goalkeeper making an accidental save. The term 'Shans-e Ghul-asā' (giant luck) is a common hyperbole used in these high-stakes environments.

In the academic world, students often attribute their success to 'khosh shansi' when they are asked about a difficult exam question that they happened to review just minutes before the test. It serves as a way to remain humble, attributing success to external factors rather than just their own intelligence.

In Cinema and TV: Persian dramas often revolve around twists of fate. Characters will lament their 'bad-shansi' or celebrate a sudden 'khosh shansi' that changes the plot's direction.

این فقط یک خوش شانسی ساده نبود، معجزه بود.
This wasn't just simple good luck; it was a miracle.

You will also hear it in marketplaces (Bazaars). A merchant might tell a customer that it is their 'khosh shansi' that they arrived just as a new shipment of high-quality saffron or silk was opened. In this context, it is used as a persuasive sales technique to make the buyer feel special and favored by fortune.

For English speakers learning Persian, the most common mistake involving خوش شانسی is using the wrong verb to express 'being lucky'. In English, we use the verb 'to be', but in Persian, 'to be good luck' sounds like the person *is* the concept of luck itself.

Mistake 1: Using 'Budan' incorrectly: Incorrect: 'Man khosh shansi hastam' (I am good luck). Correct: 'Man khosh shans hastam' (I am lucky) or 'Man khosh shansi āvardam' (I got lucky).

اشتباه: من خوش شانسی هستم.
Don't say this to mean 'I am lucky'.

Another frequent error is the confusion between the noun 'khosh shansi' and the adjective 'khosh shans'. The noun refers to the *thing* (good luck), while the adjective describes the *person* (lucky). Using 'khosh shansi' when you need an adjective will make your sentence grammatically clunky.

Mistake 2: Forgetting the 'Khosh': In English, 'luck' can be neutral. In Persian, 'shans' alone is often neutral or positive, but in formal writing, omitting 'khosh' when you specifically mean 'good luck' can be seen as incomplete.

A third mistake is misusing the 'i' suffix. Some learners might try to say 'khosh shans-ha' to mean 'lucky events', but 'khosh shansi' already covers the concept. Pluralizing the abstract noun is rarely done in Persian unless referring to specific instances of luck over a long period, which is quite advanced.

Mistake 3: Word Order with Adjectives: When adding an adjective like 'great' (bozorg), it must follow the noun: 'khosh shansi-ye bozorg'. Learners often put the adjective first because of English influence.

او خوش شانسی عجیبی داشت.
He had a strange piece of good luck. (Note the 'ye' connector).

Finally, avoid using 'khosh shansi' for 'blessing' in a religious context. For that, Persians use 'barakat'. Using 'khosh shansi' to describe a religious miracle might sound too secular or casual depending on the company.

While خوش شانسی is the most common modern term, Persian is a rich language with many synonyms that carry different nuances of 'luck' and 'fortune'. Understanding these can help you choose the right word for the right situation.

Bakht (بخت): This is a more traditional and poetic word for 'fate' or 'fortune'. It often implies a long-term destiny rather than a single lucky event. 'Khosh-bakhti' means happiness or prosperity.

او بخت بلندی دارد.
He has a high (great) fortune/destiny.

Another alternative is Eqbāl (اقبال). This word has an Arabic root and is used in more formal or literary contexts to mean 'prosperity' or 'success'. You might see it in newspapers or classical literature.

Sa'ādat (سعادت): This word translates closer to 'felicity' or 'blissful fortune'. It is very formal and often used in wedding speeches or official congratulations.

با آرزوی سعادت برای شما.
Wishing you blissful fortune (happiness).

In slang, you might hear the term 'kharkhans' (extremely lucky), which is very informal and should be avoided in polite company. It literally combines 'donkey' (used as an intensifier) with 'luck'.

Tāle' (طالع): This refers to one's 'horoscope' or 'star'. If someone is lucky, you might say their 'tale' is good, implying that the stars are aligned in their favor.

Choosing between these depends on the 'register'. If you are talking to a friend about a video game, use 'khosh shansi'. If you are writing a poem about the tragedy of human life, 'bakht' is your best friend. If you are wishing a colleague success in their new business, 'eqbal' or 'movafaghiyat' (success) would be more appropriate.

How Formal Is It?

Fun Fact

Persian has a long history of adopting French words for modern concepts. Before 'shans' became popular, Iranians almost exclusively used 'bakht' or 'eqbal'.

Pronunciation Guide

UK /xɒʃ ʃɑːn.si/

US /xoʊʃ ʃɑn.si/

The stress is typically on the final syllable '-si'.

Rhymes With

شناسی (Shenasi) عکاسی (Akkasi) سیاسی (Siyasi) حساسی (Hassasi) لباسی (Lebasi) ناسپاسی (Nasepasi) وسواسی (Vasvasi) احساسی (Ehsasi)

Common Errors

Pronouncing 'kh' as a simple 'k'.
Using a short 'a' in 'shansi' like the American 'cat'. It should be long like 'father'.
Merging the two 'sh' sounds; they should be distinct and slightly elongated.
Pronouncing the final 'i' as 'ay'.
Putting stress on the first syllable.

Difficulty Rating

Reading 2/5

Easy to recognize because of the French root 'shans'.

Writing 3/5

Requires remembering the 'khosh' prefix and correct spelling of 'shansi'.

Speaking 3/5

The 'kh' and double 'sh' sounds require practice for native English speakers.

Listening 2/5

Very common in speech, making it easy to pick up once learned.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

خوش بد داشتن آوردن بودن

Learn Next

بخت سرنوشت تصادف موفقیت اتفاق

Advanced

قضا و قدر تقدیر طالع‌بینی سعادت‌مندی میمنت

Grammar to Know

Compound Noun Formation

خوش + شانس + ی = خوش‌شانسی

Ezafe Construction

خوش شانسیِ من (My good luck)

Verb Pairing (Collocation)

خوش شانسی آوردن (Not 'shodan')

Adjective Placement

خوش شانسیِ عجیب (Strange luck)

Subjunctive with 'Agar'

اگر خوش شانسی بیاورم...

Examples by Level

من خوش شانسی دارم.

I have good luck.

Simple Subject + Noun + Verb.

خوش شانسی یعنی برنده شدن.

Good luck means winning.

Noun as a subject.

امروز خوش شانسی آوردم.

I got lucky today.

Using the 'avardan' verb for events.

این یک خوش شانسی است.

This is a piece of good luck.

Using 'ast' (to be) with the noun.

خوش شانسی در فوتبال مهم است.

Good luck is important in football.

Prepositional phrase 'dar' (in).

او خوش شانسی زیادی دارد.

He has a lot of good luck.

Adjective 'ziyadi' (a lot) modifying the noun.

بدون خوش شانسی نمی‌توان برد.

Without good luck, one cannot win.

Preposition 'bedun-e' (without).

خوش شانسی شما کجاست؟

Where is your good luck?

Possessive suffix '-e shoma'.

دیروز در امتحان خوش شانسی آوردم.

Yesterday I got lucky in the exam.

Past tense 'avardam'.

او از خوش شانسی خودش تعجب کرد.

He was surprised by his own good luck.

Possessive suffix '-ash' and reflexive 'khod'.

ما برای پیروزی به خوش شانسی نیاز داریم.

We need good luck for victory.

Verb 'niyaz dashtan' (to need).

این خوش شانسی بزرگی برای ما بود.

This was a great piece of good luck for us.

Adjective 'bozorg' following the noun.

آیا به خوش شانسی در زندگی اعتقاد داری؟

Do you believe in good luck in life?

Question form with 'aya'.

خوش شانسی من از پارسال شروع شد.

My good luck started since last year.

Subject with possessive suffix.

آن‌ها با خوش شانسی از تصادف فرار کردند.

They escaped the accident with good luck.

Preposition 'ba' (with).

خوش شانسی همیشه با آدم نیست.

Good luck is not always with a person.

Negative form 'nist'.

اگر کمی خوش شانسی بیاوریم، پروژه تمام می‌شود.

If we get a little lucky, the project will be finished.

Conditional 'agar' + subjunctive 'biavarim'.

بسیاری از موفقیت‌های او مدیون خوش شانسی است.

Many of his successes are owed to good luck.

Using 'madyun-e' (indebted to/owed to).

خوش شانسی می‌تواند در یک لحظه تغییر کند.

Good luck can change in a moment.

Modal verb 'tavanestan' (can).

او همیشه خوش شانسی‌اش را با دیگران تقسیم می‌کند.

He always shares his good luck with others.

Direct object marker 'ra'.

به نظر من، خوش شانسی فقط آمادگی برای فرصت‌هاست.

In my opinion, good luck is just being prepared for opportunities.

Compound sentence with 'be nazar-e man'.

او از خوش شانسی زیاد، گیج شده بود.

He was confused by too much good luck.

Past participle 'gij shode bud'.

خوش شانسی در این کار نقش مهمی ایفا می‌کند.

Good luck plays an important role in this work.

Idiomatic 'naghsh-e ... ifa kardan'.

هیچ‌کس نمی‌داند خوش شانسی چه زمانی می‌آید.

No one knows when good luck comes.

Embedded question with 'che zamani'.

او خوش شانسی‌اش را مدیون دعای مادرش می‌داند.

He considers his good luck to be due to his mother's prayers.

Complex object structure.

برخی معتقدند که خوش شانسی نتیجه افکار مثبت است.

Some believe that good luck is the result of positive thoughts.

Subordinate clause starting with 'ke'.

خوش شانسی در تجارت گاهی از سرمایه هم مهم‌تر است.

Good luck in business is sometimes even more important than capital.

Comparative 'mohem-tar'.

با وجود خوش شانسی، او باز هم ناراضی بود.

Despite the good luck, he was still dissatisfied.

Prepositional phrase 'ba vojud-e' (despite).

او هرگز خوش شانسی خود را به رخ دیگران نمی‌کشد.

He never flaunts his good luck to others.

Idiom 'be rokh keshidan' (to flaunt).

خوش شانسی محض بود که او در آن ساعت آنجا نبود.

It was pure good luck that he wasn't there at that hour.

Adjective 'mahz' (pure/mere).

آیا می‌توان خوش شانسی را با علم ریاضی توجیه کرد؟

Can good luck be justified with mathematical science?

Passive voice 'toujiye kard'.

خوش شانسی او زبانزد خاص و عام شده است.

His good luck has become famous among everyone.

Idiom 'zabanzad-e khas o am'.

مفهوم خوش شانسی در ادبیات کلاسیک با 'بخت' گره خورده است.

The concept of good luck is tied to 'fate' in classical literature.

Passive construction 'gereh khorde ast'.

او خوش شانسی را پدیده‌ای تصادفی و فاقد منطق می‌داند.

He considers good luck a random phenomenon lacking logic.

Complex adjectives 'tasadofi' and 'faghed-e manghegh'.

تجلی خوش شانسی در زندگی روزمره ایرانیان بسیار مشهود است.

The manifestation of good luck is very evident in the daily lives of Iranians.

Formal vocabulary 'tajalli' and 'mashhud'.

او با تکیه بر خوش شانسی، از پذیرش مسئولیت شانه خالی کرد.

Relying on good luck, he shirked his responsibility.

Idiom 'shane khali kardan' (to shirk).

خوش شانسی مفرط گاهی منجر به غرور بیجا می‌شود.

Excessive good luck sometimes leads to misplaced pride.

Formal verb 'monjar shodan' (to lead to).

تحلیلگران، خوش شانسی را عاملی تعیین‌کننده در این انتخابات می‌دانند.

Analysts consider good luck a decisive factor in this election.

Compound adjective 'tayin-konandeh'.

خوش شانسی او در گروی تلاش‌های بی‌وقفه‌اش بود.

His good luck was dependent on his incessant efforts.

Phrase 'dar gerov-e' (dependent on).

او به ندرت از واژه خوش شانسی برای توصیف دستاوردهایش استفاده می‌کند.

He rarely uses the word good luck to describe his achievements.

Adverb 'be nedrat' (rarely).

تقابل میان اراده آزاد و خوش شانسی، بن‌مایه بسیاری از تراژدی‌هاست.

The confrontation between free will and good luck is the motif of many tragedies.

Philosophical subject-predicate structure.

او خوش شانسی را صرفاً توهمی برای تسلی خاطر شکست‌خوردگان برمی‌شمارد.

He counts good luck as merely an illusion to comfort the defeated.

Formal verb 'bar-shomordan'.

در این جستار، به بررسی ابعاد جامعه‌شناختی خوش شانسی خواهیم پرداخت.

In this essay, we will examine the sociological dimensions of good luck.

Future tense 'khahim pardakht'.

خوش شانسی او، همچون شهابی در آسمان تیره زندگی‌اش، زودگذر بود.

His good luck, like a meteor in the dark sky of his life, was fleeting.

Simile with 'hamchon'.

اعتقاد به خوش شانسی مفرط می‌تواند منجر به فلج شدن قدرت تصمیم‌گیری شود.

Belief in excessive good luck can lead to the paralysis of decision-making power.

Gerund 'falaj shodan'.

او خوش شانسی را نه یک اتفاق، بلکه یک مهارت اکتسابی می‌پندارد.

He perceives good luck not as an event, but as an acquired skill.

Conjunction 'na ... balke' (not ... but).

پیوند ناگسستنی میان خوش شانسی و اسطوره‌های کهن پارسی بر کسی پوشیده نیست.

The unbreakable link between good luck and ancient Persian myths is hidden from no one.

Formal idiom 'bar kasi pushide nist'.

او با ظرافتی خاص، خوش شانسی را به عنوان عنصری دراماتیک در فیلمنامه گنجاند.

With a specific subtlety, he included good luck as a dramatic element in the screenplay.

Adverbial phrase 'ba zarafati khas'.

Common Collocations

خوش شانسی آوردن

خوش شانسی داشتن

از روی خوش شانسی

خوش شانسی بزرگ

کمی خوش شانسی

اوج خوش شانسی

خوش شانسی محض

اعتقاد به خوش شانسی

عامل خوش شانسی

در اوج خوش شانسی

Common Phrases

خوش شانسی بهت رو کرده

— Good luck has faced you (Luck is on your side).

ببین! خوش شانسی بهت رو کرده.

از خوش شانسی ما

— By our good luck (Luckily for us).

از خوش شانسی ما، باران بند آمد.

خوش شانسی یعنی این

— This is what good luck means (This is true luck).

برنده شدی؟ خوش شانسی یعنی این!

یک ذره خوش شانسی

— A tiny bit of good luck.

یک ذره خوش شانسی لازم دارم.

دریای خوش شانسی

— An ocean of good luck (Very lucky).

او در دریای خوش شانسی غرق شده.

خوش شانسی آوردن در بخت‌آزمایی

— To get lucky in the lottery.

او در بخت‌آزمایی خوش شانسی آورد.

بنا بر خوش شانسی

— Based on good luck.

بنا بر خوش شانسی، او زنده ماند.

خوش شانسی از سر و رویش می‌بارد

— Good luck is raining down on him (He is very lucky).

امروز خوش شانسی از سر و رویش می‌بارد.

خوش شانسی در خانه کسی را زدن

— Luck knocking on someone's door.

بالاخره خوش شانسی در خانه او را زد.

به امید خوش شانسی

— Hoping for good luck.

به امید خوش شانسی وارد مسابقه شد.

Often Confused With

خوش شانسی vs موفقیت

Success (earned) vs. Luck (chance).

خوش شانسی vs تصادف

Accident/Coincidence (neutral) vs. Luck (positive).

خوش شانسی vs فرصت

Opportunity (potential) vs. Luck (outcome).

Idioms & Expressions

"شانس خرکی"

— Incredibly stupid/huge luck (Slang).

او شانس خرکی آورد و برنده شد.

Slang

"خرشانس"

— A person who is extremely lucky (Slang).

عجب آدم خرشانسی است!

Slang

"شانس یک بار در خانه آدم را می‌زند"

— Luck knocks on one's door only once.

فرصت را از دست نده، شانس یک بار در خانه آدم را می‌زند.

Common

"بخت با کسی یار بودن"

— Fortune being a friend to someone.

بخت با او یار بود که سقوط نکرد.

Literary

"ستاره‌اش بلند است"

— His star is high (He is very lucky).

او ستاره‌اش بلند است و همیشه موفق می‌شود.

Informal

"نانش در روغن است"

— His bread is in the oil (He is in a very lucky/prosperous position).

بعد از آن قرارداد، نانش در روغن است.

Idiomatic

"در روی پاشنه خوش شانسی چرخیدن"

— Things turning on the hinge of good luck.

زندگی‌اش فعلاً در روی پاشنه خوش شانسی می‌چرخد.

Metaphorical

"شانس آوردن مثل غول"

— To get lucky like a giant (Huge luck).

در قرعه‌کشی مثل غول شانس آورد.

Informal

"بختش باز شده"

— His/Her fortune has opened (Usually regarding marriage).

بالاخره بختش باز شد و ازدواج کرد.

Cultural

"کبوتر شانس روی شانه‌اش نشست"

— The pigeon of luck sat on his shoulder.

امروز کبوتر شانس روی شانه‌اش نشست.

Poetic

Easily Confused

خوش شانسی vs خوش‌شانس

Adjective vs Noun.

Khosh-shans is 'lucky' (person), Khosh-shansi is 'luck' (thing).

او خوش‌شانس است (He is lucky) vs او خوش‌شانسی دارد (He has luck).

خوش شانسی vs بدشانسی

Opposite meanings.

Bad-shansi is bad luck, Khosh-shansi is good luck.

امروز بدشانسی آوردم.

خوش شانسی vs شانس

Root vs Compound.

Shans is generic luck, Khosh-shansi is specifically good luck.

او شانس آورد.

خوش شانسی vs بخت

Synonyms.

Bakht is more about fate/destiny.

بخت با او نبود.

خوش شانسی vs اقبال

Synonyms.

Eqbal is more formal and implies prosperity.

اقبال خوبی داشت.

Sentence Patterns

[Subject] [Noun] [Verb].

من خوش شانسی دارم.

[Time] [Noun] آوردم.

دیروز خوش شانسی آوردم.

اگر [Noun] بیاورم، [Result].

اگر خوش شانسی بیاورم، برنده می‌شوم.

از [Noun] [Possessive], [Sentence].

از خوش شانسی‌ام، او را دیدم.

[Concept] نتیجه [Noun] است.

موفقیت نتیجه خوش شانسی نیست.

[Abstract Noun] در گروی [Noun] است.

خوش شانسی در گروی فرصت‌شناسی است.

Any

چه [Noun] بزرگی!

چه خوش شانسی بزرگی!

Any

بدون [Noun]...

بدون خوش شانسی نمی‌شود.

Word Family

Nouns

شانس (Luck)

خوش‌شانسی (Good luck)

بدشانسی (Bad luck)

Verbs

شانس آوردن (To get lucky)

شانس داشتن (To have luck)

Adjectives

خوش‌شانس (Lucky)

بدشانس (Unlucky)

با‌شانس (Lucky - less common)

بخت

اقبال

تصادف

احتمال

سرنوشت

How to Use It

frequency

Extremely frequent in both spoken and written Persian.

Common Mistakes

Man khosh shansi hastam. → Man khosh shans hastam.
You are using the noun 'luck' instead of the adjective 'lucky'.
Khosh shansi shodam. → Khosh shansi avardam.
You don't 'become' good luck; you 'bring' or 'experience' it.
Bozorg khosh shansi. → Khosh shansi-ye bozorg.
In Persian, the adjective must follow the noun with an Ezafe.
Bedun khosh shansi. → Bedun-e khosh shansi.
The preposition 'bedun' (without) requires the Ezafe '-e' connector.
Shans-e khosh. → Khosh shansi.
While 'shans-e khosh' is understandable, it is not the standard compound noun used by natives.

Tips

Verb Choice

Always use 'avardan' (to bring) for specific lucky events like winning a coin toss.

Modesty

If someone praises your success, attributing it to 'khosh shansi' is a polite way to show humility.

The 'Kh' Sound

Practice the 'kh' sound at the back of your throat to sound more like a native speaker.

Shortened Form

Use 'shans' in casual settings to sound more natural and less like a textbook.

Spelling

Remember the 'i' at the end; without it, 'khosh shans' is an adjective, not a noun.

Exclamations

Listen for the tone; 'Che shansi!' can be sarcastic if said with a specific downward intonation.

Idioms

Using 'bakt ba man yar bud' (luck was my friend) will impress native speakers with your literary knowledge.

French Connection

If you know French or English 'chance', you already know 70% of this word.

Greetings

Wishing someone 'ba arezu-ye khosh shansi' (wishing you good luck) is a great way to end a conversation.

Accidents

Use it to describe 'near misses' in traffic; this is its most common real-world application.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Imagine a 'Kosh' (cushion) that is 'Shansi' (shiny). When you sit on a shiny cushion, you feel you have 'Khosh Shansi'!

Visual Association

Visualize a four-leaf clover with a smiling face (Khosh) on each leaf.

Word Web

Good Chance Fortune Success Random Positive Gratitude Destiny

Challenge

Try to say 'Khosh shansi āvardam' five times fast without tripping over the 'sh' sounds.

Word Origin

The word is a hybrid construction. 'Khosh' is a native Middle Persian (Pahlavi) word 'hush'. 'Shans' is a 20th-century loanword from the French 'chance'.

Original meaning: Good chance or favorable opportunity.

Indo-European (Persian) + Indo-European (French/Latin).

Cultural Context

Avoid using the slang 'kharkhans' in formal or respectful company as it includes the word for donkey.

English speakers often say 'I am lucky', but Persians say 'I brought luck'. This reflects a more event-based view of fortune.

The movie 'Shans-e Zendegi' (The Chance of Life). Pop songs by artists like Andy or Kouros often mention 'shans'. Classical poems by Hafez often use 'Bakht' which is the ancestor of this concept.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Sports

خوش شانسی آوردیم.
شانس با ما بود.
تیم مقابل خوش شانس بود.
بدون خوش شانسی نمی‌بردیم.

Daily Accidents

چه خوش شانسی بزرگی!
از خوش شانسی من بود.
شانس آوردم که نرفتم.
واقعاً خوش شانسی بود.

Games/Lottery

امیدوارم خوش شانسی بیاورم.
او همیشه خوش شانسی دارد.
شانس‌آزمایی شرکت کردم.
خوش شانسی در قمار.

Academic/Work

کمی خوش شانسی لازم است.
خوش شانسی در پیدا کردن شغل.
او با خوش شانسی قبول شد.
موفقیت یا خوش شانسی؟

Relationships

خوش شانسی در عشق.
آشنایی ما یک خوش شانسی بود.
چه خوش شانسی که تو را دیدم.
بخت و خوش شانسی در ازدواج.

Conversation Starters

"آیا تا به حال در زندگی خوش شانسی بزرگی آورده‌ای؟"

"فکر می‌کنی خوش شانسی مهم‌تر است یا تلاش زیاد؟"

"یک خاطره از زمانی که خوش شانسی آوردی تعریف کن."

"آیا به اشیاء خوش‌شانسی‌آور (مثل نعل اسب) اعتقاد داری؟"

"کدام یک از دوستانت از همه خوش‌شانس‌تر است؟"

Journal Prompts

امروز چه اتفاق کوچکی افتاد که می‌توان آن را خوش شانسی دانست؟

اگر فردا خوش شانسی بزرگی بیاوری، دوست داری چه اتفاقی بیفتد؟

نقش خوش شانسی در رسیدن به اهداف بزرگ زندگی‌ات را توصیف کن.

آیا ترجیح می‌دهی باهوش باشی یا خوش‌شانس؟ چرا؟

درباره زمانی بنویس که فکر می‌کردی بدشانسی آورده‌ای اما بعداً معلوم شد خوش شانسی بوده است.

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

It is a compound noun. In modern Persian, it is often written with a 'half-space' (nim-fasele) as خوش‌شانسی, but writing it as two separate words خوش شانسی is also common and acceptable.

Yes, in informal speech, 'shans' is very common. However, 'khosh shansi' is more specific and polite. If you say 'shans avardam', people will assume you mean good luck.

You should say 'Man khosh shans hastam' (using the adjective) or 'Man khosh shansi daram' (I have good luck).

The direct opposite is 'bad shansi' (بدشانسی), which means bad luck.

Generally, no. In religious contexts, people prefer 'barakat' (blessing) or 'tovfigh' (divine success). 'Khosh shansi' is more secular.

It comes from the French word 'chance'. Persian has many such loanwords from French.

Technically yes (khosh shansi-ha), but it is very rare. Usually, we treat it as an abstract, uncountable noun.

You can say 'Khosh-bakhtane' or the phrase 'Az khosh shansi'.

It is very slangy and can be considered vulgar in polite company, though friends use it with each other to mean 'incredibly lucky'.

No, that is 'khosh-bakhti'. While related, 'khosh shansi' is specifically about luck, while 'khosh-bakhti' is about overall well-being and fortune.