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How to Say ‘Otherwise it brings bad luck!’ in German

Sonst bringt es Unglück!

zonst bringt es OON-glook

[zonst bringt es OON-glook]

🇩🇪 In Germany: The popular saying is seven years of bad luck, often joked about as seven years of bad sex. It's said with a grin, but people do take the eye contact seriously.

Phrase Breakdown

Sonst bringt es

zonst bringt es

Otherwise it brings

'Sonst' means 'otherwise'. The verb 'bringt' comes second in the sentence, followed by the subject 'es'.

Example

Sonst bringt es nichts.

Otherwise it's pointless.

Words in this phrase

Sonst

[zonst]

otherwise / else

As an alternative.

Example

Was kann ich sonst tun?

What else can I do?

bringt

[bringt]

brings

Form of 'bringen' (to bring) for he/she/it.

Example

Er bringt einen Kuchen mit.

He's bringing a cake.

[es]

A neutral pronoun used to refer to a thing previously mentioned.

Example

Es ist ein schöner Tag.

It is a beautiful day.

Unglück!

OON-glook

bad luck!

'Un-' (not) plus 'Glück' (luck). Stress the first syllable: 'UN-glück'. The 'ü' is like 'ee' said with rounded lips.

Example

Das bringt Unglück.

That brings bad luck.

Words in this phrase

Unglück

[OON-glook]

bad luck, misfortune

The opposite of 'Glück'; neuter noun (das Unglück).

Example

Eine schwarze Katze bringt Unglück.

A black cat brings bad luck.

Guides for German learners

Duolingo vs Pimsleur: Tapping on a Screen or Talking Out Loud?Duolingo vs Pimsleur: five minutes of tapping versus thirty minutes of speaking. What each is good at, what each costs, and which to pick for your goal.

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