das Pech
bad luck
Misfortune or an unlucky coincidence; the opposite of luck.
EXAMPLE
Wir hatten wirklich Pech mit dem Wetter im Urlaub, es hat nur geregnet.
We had really bad luck with the weather on vacation; it did nothing but rain.
das Pech
bad luck / pitch
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Meanings
das Pech
pitch
A black, viscous, sticky substance obtained from tar or resin and used for sealing.
EXAMPLE
Im Mittelalter wurden die Fugen von Holzschiffen mit heißem Pech versiegelt.
In the Middle Ages, the seams of wooden ships were sealed with hot pitch.
wie Pech und Schwefel
like glue
An idiom describing two people who are inseparable and always stick together.
EXAMPLE
Seit ihrer Kindheit sind die beiden Freundinnen wie Pech und Schwefel.
The two friends have been inseparable since childhood.
Usage tips
Context clue
You can easily recognize the meaning of 'Pech' (bad luck / pitch) from context. If people are talking about luck or mishaps, it means 'Unglück' (misfortune). If the topic is materials, construction, or history, it means the sticky substance.
EXAMPLE
Zuerst den Zug verpasst und dann den Schlüssel verloren – was für ein Pech!
First missed the train and then lost the key — what bad luck!
Typical collocation
The most common use is the fixed expression 'Pech haben' (to have bad luck). The exclamation 'Pech gehabt!' expresses that someone has to accept an unfortunate situation.
EXAMPLE
Er hat im Lotto nie gewonnen, er hat einfach immer Pech.
He has never won the lottery; he simply always has bad luck.
Uncountable noun
In the meaning 'Unglück' (misfortune), 'Pech' is an uncountable noun. It is therefore used without an article when speaking generally about it, for example in the expression 'Pech haben' (to have bad luck).
EXAMPLE
Ich wünsche dir viel Glück und kein Pech bei der Prüfung.
I wish you lots of luck and no bad luck on the exam.
Fixed idiom
The idiom 'wie Pech und Schwefel zusammenhalten' describes a very close and loyal friendship. It is always used in this fixed form.
EXAMPLE
Die beiden Brüder halten seit ihrer Kindheit zusammen wie Pech und Schwefel.
The two brothers have stuck together like glue since childhood.
Compare with
Pech vs Unglück
misfortune / accident
Pech and Unglück can both express that something has turned out badly. Pech usually refers generally to an unlucky coincidence or a series of unfavorable circumstances. Unglück tends to emphasize a specific, sudden event involving serious damage or suffering; Pech is therefore often the better choice for minor mishaps.
Pech
Ich hatte Pech und verpasste wegen einer Verspätung den Zug.
I had bad luck and missed the train because of a delay.
Unglück
Bei dem Unglück wurden mehrere Menschen verletzt.
Several people were injured in the accident.
In real life
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