das Pech
Translation
bad luck, misfortune, pitch, tar
Examples
Er hatte Pech und verpasste den Zug.
He had bad luck and missed the train.
Pech ist eine schwarze, klebrige Masse.
Pitch is a black, sticky substance.
Grammar Patterns
Pech haben to have bad luck, to be unlucky He had bad luck and missed the bus.
Similar Words
Synonyms: Unglück, Missgeschick; Antonyms: Glück, Erfolg
Etymology
From Old High German 'peh', from Latin 'pix'. The 'bad luck' meaning developed metaphorically from the pitch used to trap birds, which was bad luck for them.
Memory Tips
Picture a 'peach' (sounds like Pech) falling into a bucket of tar. That's some bad luck for the peach.