Inklingo

How to Say "congratulations" in Spanish

English → Spanish

felicidades

/feh-lee-see-DAH-des//feliθiˈðaðes/

interjectionA1general
Use this for general achievements, personal milestones, or celebrations like birthdays, anniversaries, or new jobs.
A simplistic golden trophy sitting on a small pedestal, being showered by brightly colored confetti, symbolizing congratulations and achievement.

Examples

¡Felicidades por tu nuevo trabajo!

Congratulations on your new job!

Hoy es el cumpleaños de mi hermana. ¡Felicidades!

Today is my sister's birthday. Happy birthday!

Ganaste el premio, ¡muchas felicidades!

You won the prize, many congratulations!

Always Plural

Even when congratulating one person, this word is always used in its plural form, ending in -s.

Using 'Feliz' instead

Mistake: “Using '¡Feliz!' to mean 'Congratulations.'”

Correction: Use '¡Felicidades!' for congratulations. 'Feliz' is an adjective meaning 'happy' and needs a noun, like 'Feliz cumpleaños' (Happy birthday).

enhorabuena

en-oh-rah-BWEH-nah/en.o.ɾaˈbwe.na/

interjectionA1general
This is best used for significant achievements or triumphs, especially in professional or competitive contexts, like winning an award or a major success.
A high quality illustration depicting two cheerful people giving each other a high-five, celebrating a success.

Examples

¡Ganaste el premio mayor! ¡Enhorabuena!

You won the grand prize! Congratulations!

¡Enhorabuena por tu boda! Les deseo lo mejor.

Congratulations on your wedding! I wish you the best.

Terminaste el proyecto a tiempo, ¡enhorabuena!

You finished the project on time, well done!

Always Singular

Unlike the English plural 'congratulations,' 'enhorabuena' is a single, fixed word and does not need an 's' at the end.

Using the Article

Mistake: “Decir '¡La enhorabuena!' as a stand-alone expression.”

Correction: Just say '¡Enhorabuena!' The word 'la' is only used when the word functions as a noun (see Definition 2).

felicitaciones

feh-lee-see-tah-SYOH-nes/felisitaˈθjones/

interjectionA1general
Use this to express praise or joy specifically for an accomplishment or success someone has achieved, often implying you had a feeling they would succeed.
A colorful storybook illustration showing two cartoon hands meeting in a high-five gesture. The background is bright, and the high-five is surrounded by a burst of colorful confetti and small shining star shapes.

Examples

¡Felicitaciones! Sabía que ganarías el premio.

Congratulations! I knew you would win the prize.

Ella recibió las felicitaciones de su jefe por el proyecto.

She received congratulations from her boss for the project.

Quiero dar mis felicitaciones a todos los participantes.

I want to offer my congratulations to all the participants.

Always Plural

Even if you are congratulating someone once, you must use the plural form 'felicitaciones.' The singular form, 'felicitación,' refers only to the act of congratulating, not the expression itself.

Felicitaciones vs. Felicidades

Mistake: “Using '¡Felicidad!' (happiness) to congratulate someone.”

Correction: Use '¡Felicitaciones!' for achievements (like winning a race or getting a job) or '¡Felicidades!' for celebrations (like birthdays or holidays). 'Felicidades' is more versatile but 'Felicitaciones' is more specific to success.

Choosing between Felicidades and Enhorabuena

Learners often confuse 'felicidades' and 'enhorabuena'. While both mean congratulations, 'felicidades' is more general for any happy occasion, whereas 'enhorabuena' is typically reserved for more significant achievements or triumphs.

Related Translations

Learn Spanish with Inklingo

Interactive stories, personalized learning, and more.