01
glücklich
happy
Feeling a state of joy, satisfaction, and emotional well-being.
example
Sie war sehr glücklich, als sie die gute Nachricht hörte.
She was very happy when she heard the good news.
glücklich
happy / lucky
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Word family
'Glücklich' is the adjective formed from the noun 'das Glück'. Since 'das Glück' can mean both 'happiness' and 'luck', 'glücklich' also has these two main meanings: 'happy' and 'lucky/fortunate'.
EXAMPLE
Ich hatte Glück und habe gewonnen, jetzt bin ich glücklich.
I was lucky and won; now I'm happy.
Correct preposition
When you want to state the reason for the joy, you often use the preposition 'über' with the accusative. To express satisfaction with something, use 'mit' and the dative.
EXAMPLE
Er ist glücklich über das gute Ergebnis.
He is happy about the good result.
Context clue
When 'glücklich' describes a person's feeling, it means 'happy'. When it describes a situation, event, or coincidence, it means 'lucky' or 'fortunate'.
EXAMPLE
Der glückliche Gewinner konnte sein Glück kaum fassen.
The lucky winner could hardly believe his luck.
Compare with
glücklich vs erfolgreich
successful
'glücklich' and 'erfolgreich' can both describe that something turned out well. 'erfolgreich' clearly says that a goal was achieved. It fits well with exams, projects, conversations, or plans. In this context, 'glücklich' can mean that something ultimately went well or favorably, often with some luck. Learners confuse the words because success can make people happy. But 'erfolgreich' describes the result; 'glücklich' describes either a feeling or a particularly good outcome.
glücklich
Nach einem schwierigen Start nahm die Reise doch noch ein glückliches Ende.
After a difficult start, the trip did have a happy ending after all.
erfolgreich
Die Klasse bereitet sich gut vor und besteht die Prüfung erfolgreich.
The class prepares well and successfully passes the exam.
In real life
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