fortunes

[/ˈfɔːr.tʃuːnz/]
nounpl: fortunes
fortunas
1. Large amounts of money or wealth
He made his fortune in the real estate business.
Ele fez sua fortuna no negócio imobiliário.
2. Chance or luck, especially as an external force affecting one's life
The soldiers' fortunes changed when reinforcements arrived.
A sorte dos soldados mudou quando os reforços chegaram.
3. One's destiny or future, especially as predicted or foretold
A fortune teller read my fortunes in the crystal ball.
Uma cartomante leu minhas fortunas na bola de cristal.
4. Plural of fortune; multiple instances of luck or wealth
Several fortunes were lost in the stock market crash.
Várias fortunas foram perdidas no crash do mercado de ações.
In Brazil, the concept of 'fortuna' carries strong connections to fate and destiny (influenced by Portuguese and African traditions), while in American English it emphasizes accumulated wealth. Fortune telling is culturally significant in both countries, particularly in Brazil where spiritualism and popular divination practices remain widespread. The phrase 'pequena fortuna' (small fortune) is commonly used to describe expensive items.
NYC Slang
bank, paper, benjamins (when referring to wealth)
Synonyms / Sinônimos
wealthrichesluckchancedestinyfateabundanceprosperity
Antonyms / Antônimos
povertymisfortunebad luckdestitution

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
fortunas
Standard term used in formal and informal contexts
Rio de Janeiro
fortunas/grana
Colloquially 'grana' (money) is used for wealth meaning
São Paulo
fortunas
Standard usage, common in business contexts
Portugal
fortunas
Same as Brazilian Portuguese; identical usage

Related Words

fortunefortunateunfortunatelyfortune tellerfortune cookiewealthprosperityluck

Related Idioms & Phrases

make a fortune
tell someone's fortune
fortune favors the bold
reverse of fortune
wheel of fortune
small fortune
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