My husband and I were conversing the other morning while we were in the car on our way to the grocery store. When I said kismet he was surprised to hear me use the word. He asked me how I would define kismet. I answered "You know, like karma." Then he asked me why I didn't just say karma then. It was a good question, because under most circumstances I would have used the word karma. Why DID I choose to say kismet???

That's when I began to explain about how karma and kismet are similar, but soon found myself caught up in a rambling tangent about how I felt karma and kismet were distinctly different. 

These are the times when my husband probably wishes he hadn't asked the question. Especially while he was trapped inside the car with me. Ha! I believe I was far more interested in my own answer to his question than he was. I really went deep into my thinking-mind, picking away at the nuances between two very similar words. Have you ever tried to answer a question when the answer isn't exactly clear in your own mind?

Now, I realize that some people think of karma only as being a consequence of past bad deeds. But, not me. Yes, karma can feel like a negative but it can also be a positive result. Karma can show its face as a reward for past good deeds. Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines both karma and kismet as "fate" or "destiny." So basically they are the same I guess when it comes to language usage. But I still FEEL a slight difference between the two.

Kismet feels more magical to me. For me personally, kismet has a romantic flavor to it. In my world when something kismet appears it feels like a pleasant surprise, whereas when karma surfaces (good or bad) it feels like justice or a balancing.

What do you say?? Kismet or Karma

Reader Comments:

What the dictionary gives is the denotation or exact meaning of the words. What we believe it means is the connotation. The connotation is quite often a regional meaning. A good example is the term ‘y’all’ which in the South means you or your group, but when a Northerner uses it it usually means a group. Yes, I use Kismet as the ultimate situation you will find yourself in and karma as the cumulative results of thoughts and actions you are carrying around. ~Cheri

I believe kismet is destiny which could again be good or bad. Kismet is dependent on karma which is the cummulative past life deeds/impressions. In other words both are two sides of a coin.Karma culminates into kismet in the current life. ~Dr. Sonal Chhaya

This is what I know, Kismet is your destiny or whatever is written for you. Karma is a deed you have done in the past (whether good or bad) that comes back to you.!! ~Joy

Sai Ram. Kismet is urdu and karma is sanskrit, and both mean fate in english. Destiny is somewhat different. Karma is action, and fruits of action. May be good or may be bad. You reap what you sow.

Destiny is that part of karma that is manifesting in your life at any instant and which drives you towards your destination. The ultimate destination for all of us is to realise that we are One with The One and are not bound by these notions. ~Swamy

kismet is what they call destiny and karma are the good or bad deeds which create this destiny. kismet is a result of your karmas. and karma is in fact a positive word.. we don’t see things the way they are, we see them the way we are.. the way we’re told about them. but even the word negative can be turned into a positive word once you realise that positive won’t be positive without negative. ~Palak

Karma is under Hinduism and Buddhism while Kismet is another. ~Ragim 

Kismet, meaning fate or unavoidable destiny, would imply that your thoughts or actions are irrelevant; ‘the will of Allah’, but people in the english language use it as a serendipity or an anomaly but it’s almost never used as an unfortunate or chagrined circumstance.

Karma on the other hand connotes and implies a responsibility and accountability to the subject as a result of his/her actions.

They are two completely different words and concepts. Using them creates two completely different meanings: the former which implies the subject has no control and the latter that he/she does. ~chrisneglia

Kismet is from the Arabic (an Islamic belief) and refers to the will of Allah. It is, therefore, externally preordained destiny, whether good or bad.

Karma is from Sanskrit (Hinduism and other Eastern religions) and refers to the destiny one receives, whether good or bad, determined by the nature of one’s own freely chosen deeds.
~Rich

Karma and kismet are two different words and in fact opposite to each other too. Karma means what you do, did and will do to get something. Karma can be your bad habit of past for which you will have to pay in future. For example, if somebody dies today because he has been drinking enough in past. then it is his karma. If a student study hard for coming exams and he get best grade then it is also his Karma.

Now about Kismet. Kismet means fate, destiny, etc. This is magical because there is no such thing as Kismet. Until you do karma, there is no kismet. So kismet is godly thing, magical stuff, an astrological prediction that may and may not be fulfilled.

Karma is real, it always pays and it never goes waste. If there is a thing as kismet, then you can get everything without doing anything.

KARMA _ you labor for a day and get paid money at the end of they is just your karma.

KISMET _ you are walking on road and get 100 dollar missed by a passerby is just your kismet.

In India both the words:karma and kismet are popular and used in daily talking.

~Vivek Verma