fortuitous/fortunate

Is it better to be fortuitous or fortunate? Let's find out.

"Fortuitous" refers to matters of chance. It does not necessarily have to be lucky, just random. You'll often hear a football announcer say, "The ball took a fortuitous bounce." Actually, the bounce was "fortunate" for the other team. Running into someone can be fortuitous but not necessarily fortunate, especially if you hate that person's guts.

Certainly a fortunate event can be fortuitous. You were lucky for winning the lottery, but that was definitely a matter of chance.

The accepted usage now, when referring to "lucky," is "fortunate."

By the way, congratulations are in order for winning the lottery. You do, of course, remember we're related, don't you?