Spanish · Greetings & Essentials
"Congratulations!" in Spanish: ¡felicitaciones!
¡felicitaciones!
Note: ES: ¡enhorabuena!
Congratulations in Spanish is ¡felicitaciones! Felicitaciones fits wins, graduations, and good news. In Spain you often hear ¡enhorabuena! instead.
After a graduation
¡Felicitaciones por tu título!Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce ¡felicitaciones!
Say it
feh-lee-see-tah-SYOH-nehs
/fe.li.si.taˈsjo.nes/
feh-lee-see-tah-SYOH-nehs. Stress SYOH. Soft c before i sounds like s in Latin American felicitaciones.
"Congratulations!" in Spanish: quick reference
| Spanish | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| ¡felicitaciones! | congratulations! Default Latin American cheer. | Default Latin American cheer. |
| ¡enhorabuena! | congratulations! (Spain) Castilian favorite for the same moment. | Castilian favorite for the same moment. |
| te felicito | I congratulate you Personal spoken line. | Personal spoken line. |
| felicitaciones por… | congratulations on… Add the reason: Felicitaciones por el trabajo. | Add the reason: Felicitaciones por el trabajo. |
How to use ¡felicitaciones! in real life
- 1After a graduation
¡Felicitaciones por tu título!
Congratulations on your degree!
Felicitaciones por names the reason.
- 2New job news
Felicitaciones. Ese puesto te queda bien.
Congratulations. That job suits you.
Calm felicitaciones without the marks still works.
- 3Team win
¡Felicitaciones al equipo!
Congratulations to the team!
Felicitaciones al points to a group.
Mistakes English speakers make with ¡felicitaciones!
Incorrect: ¡Congratulaciones!
Correct: ¡Felicitaciones!
Spanish uses felicitaciones, not a near-English congratulaciones.
Incorrect: ¡Felicitación! (as the cheer)
Correct: ¡Felicitaciones!
The cheer is plural: felicitaciones. Singular felicitación means one congratulatory message.
Good to know
Felicitaciones is the Latin American default. Enhorabuena is the Castilian twin for felicitaciones in Spain. For birthdays, switch to ¡feliz cumpleaños! instead of felicitaciones.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
A friend got a promotion
ChatPal
Me ascendieron en el trabajo.
I got promoted at work.
You
¡Felicitaciones! ¿Cuándo empiezas?
Congratulations! When do you start?
ChatPal
El lunes. Estoy nervioso.
Monday. I'm nervous.
You
Felicitaciones otra vez. Vas a salir bien.
Congratulations again. You'll do fine.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Congratulations!" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Congratulations!" in Spanish
Felicitaciones or enhorabuena?
Felicitaciones is Latin American. Enhorabuena is common in Spain.
Is felicitaciones plural?
Yes as a cheer. Use felicitaciones, not felicitación, for the shout.
Birthday wishes?
Say ¡feliz cumpleaños! Felicitaciones is for other good news.
Formal register?
Felicitaciones works polite and casual. Te felicito feels personal.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
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