“Schwein gehabt”
That was lucky! / Lucky break!
Daily LifeInformalB1
Literal Translation
Word for word: “Pig had”
Pronunciation
/ʃvaɪ̯n ɡəˈhaːpt/
When to Use This Phrase
Pigs are a symbol of good luck in Germany, which is why marzipan pigs (Glücksschweine) are a popular New Year's gift. 'Schwein haben' means getting lucky by pure chance rather than through skill, like catching a train you thought you'd missed.
Example Sentences
Der Zug hatte Verspätung, deshalb habe ich ihn noch erwischt. Schwein gehabt!
The train was late, so I still managed to catch it. That was lucky!
Da hast du aber Schwein gehabt!
You were really lucky there!
Word Breakdown
Related Phrases
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