Inklingo

How to Say "congratulations" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “congratulations” is “felicidades” — use this for general congratulations on achievements, milestones, or happy occasions like birthdays or holidays.

English → Spanish

felicidades

feh-lee-see-DAH-desfeliθiˈðaðes

interjectionA1general
Use this for general congratulations on achievements, milestones, or happy occasions like birthdays or holidays.
A simplistic golden trophy sitting on a small pedestal, being showered by brightly colored confetti, symbolizing congratulations and achievement.

Examples

¡Felicidades por tu graduación!

Congratulations on your graduation!

¡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-nahen.o.ɾaˈbwe.na

interjectionA1formal
This is best used for congratulating someone on a specific achievement or success, especially in a more formal or professional context.
A high quality illustration depicting two cheerful people giving each other a high-five, celebrating a success.

Examples

¡Enhorabuena por el ascenso!

Congratulations on the promotion!

¡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-nesfelisitaˈθjones

interjectionA1general
This is a plural form often used to express strong praise or joy for an achievement, similar to 'felicidades' but can sound slightly more emphatic.
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 por ganar el partido!

Congratulations on winning the game!

¡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.

felicitación

nounA2general
Use this noun to refer to the act of congratulating someone or a message conveying congratulations, like a card or an email.

Examples

Recibí una felicitación por mi cumpleaños.

I received a congratulatory message for my birthday.

Choosing Between Felicidades and Enhorabuena

The most common mistake is confusing 'felicidades' and 'enhorabuena'. While both work for achievements, 'enhorabuena' is often preferred for professional or significant accomplishments, whereas 'felicidades' is more versatile for general good news and celebrations.

Related Translations

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