These mean the same thing, but unlucky is used more often to describe a person. Unfortunate usually describes an event.

Another way of thinking of the difference: 'Luck' is usually associated with superstition.. (Like wearing a rabbit's foot, or carrying a 4-leave clover in your pocket-- or worrying about walking under a ladder, or worrying about a black cat crossing your path...) But Unfortunate is usually spoken in deeper respect for a person's circumstance: For instance If you were standing on a street corner, waiting for the signal light to let you cross the street, and a big truck came around the corner too tight, and it's tire ran over the curb, and hit your toe-- YOu had to go to the hospital-- You would say that person was unfortunate-- he was in the wrong place at the wrong time-- and did not see it coming. Does that help? Here is my introduction-- in case you want to discuss further-- from the Bible: My Name is 'Mack'-- I am a 73 year old Grandfather-- see my picture-- with my Grandson, OTTO. I like to help persons who want to learn English,- by using God's Word the Holy Bible-- oldest book, well translated into English-- I like to use this as our Text book. This way a person learns not only the language, but the culture, and answers as found in the Bible. If you are interested, I look forward to further discussion-- and I am willing to use SKYPE-- if that interests you, too? Here is a link to our On-Line Bible-- you can read it in any language you prefer-- it will open in English-- but in the top right corner-- you can change the language: http://www.jw.org/en/publications/bible/genesis/1/ It is starting with the opening words of the Bible in Genesis 1:1-- Let me know if this interest you? Or let me know what topics you would like to discuss -- or questions you would ike ansered from the Bible. I am an elder in the local congregation, and have been baptized 0ver 56 years. Most sincerely, Mack Baxter- Western NY State-- 2 hours from Niagara Falls We live in Wine Country!

Unfortunate and unlucky both have the same meaning.