How to Say Congratulations in 20 Languages
TABLE OF CONTENTS
A quick “congratulations” works for good news, but the safest wording changes with the language, relationship, and occasion. Use this table to choose a widely understood phrase, then add the achievement you are celebrating.
Congratulations in 20 Languages
Capital letters mark the stressed part of each rough pronunciation. These English-style guides cannot reproduce tones, vowel length, or every regional sound, so treat them as a starting point rather than an exact pronunciation.
| Language | Phrase | Romanization or rough pronunciation | Useful note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spanish | ¡Felicidades! | feh-lee-see-DAH-des | A broad choice for birthdays, weddings, graduations, and achievements |
| French | Félicitations ! | fay-lee-see-ta-SYON | Standard in both spoken congratulations and written messages |
| German | Herzlichen Glückwunsch! | HAIRTS-lee-khen GLUEK-voonsh | Literally a heartfelt good wish; suitable for most occasions |
| Italian | Congratulazioni! | kon-gra-too-la-TSYO-nee | A clear general expression; Complimenti! often praises something well done |
| Portuguese | Parabéns! | pa-ra-BENS | Used for congratulations and commonly for birthdays |
| Dutch | Gefeliciteerd! | khuh-fay-lee-see-TEERT | A standard all-purpose choice |
| Danish | Tillykke! | tee-LOO-kuh | Used for birthdays, weddings, new jobs, and other good news |
| Swedish | Grattis! | GRAT-iss | Common and concise; Gratulerar! is another option |
| Finnish | Onnea! | ON-neh-ah | Literally relates to happiness or good fortune and works broadly |
| Polish | Gratulacje! | gra-too-LAHT-syeh | A standard congratulatory expression |
| Russian | Поздравляю! | Pozdravlyayu - poz-druv-LYAH-yoo | Literally “I congratulate [you]”; one speaker addressing another person |
| Greek | Συγχαρητήρια! | Syncharitíria - seen-kha-ree-TEE-ree-ah | A general expression for congratulations |
| Turkish | Tebrikler! | teb-REEK-ler | A versatile choice for achievements and celebrations |
| Arabic (Modern Standard) | تهانينا! | Tahanina - ta-ha-NEE-na | A formal, widely readable choice; everyday dialects also use مبروك (mabrouk) |
| Hebrew | מזל טוב! | Mazal tov - ma-ZAL tov | Literally “good fortune,” but used to congratulate someone after good news |
| Hindi | बधाई हो! | Badhai ho - ba-DHAI ho | A common way to congratulate someone |
| Mandarin Chinese | 恭喜！ | Gōngxǐ - gong-shee | A concise general expression; tones are not captured by the English hint |
| Japanese | おめでとうございます！ | Omedetō gozaimasu - oh-meh-deh-TOH go-zai-mas | A polite form suitable when formality matters |
| Korean | 축하합니다! | Chukhahamnida - chook-ha-ham-nee-da | A formal-polite form; 축하해요 is a common polite everyday alternative |
| Vietnamese | Chúc mừng! | chook moong | A general congratulatory phrase; Vietnamese tones require native audio |
The table gives one useful default per language. It does not cover every dialect, level of formality, or phrase tied to a specific event.
Four Phrases Worth Understanding
Japanese: Politeness Changes the Ending
おめでとう (omedetō) is natural with friends and people you know well. Adding ございます (gozaimasu) produces the more polite おめでとうございます, which is safer for a teacher, colleague, customer, older person, or formal message.
The occasion normally comes before the phrase: ご結婚おめでとうございます (gokekkon omedetō gozaimasu) means “Congratulations on your marriage.”
Korean: Match the Relationship
축하합니다 (chukhahamnida) is a formal-polite choice. 축하해요 (chukhahaeyo) is polite but more conversational, while 축하해 (chukhahae) belongs with close friends or someone younger when the relationship permits casual speech.
If you are unsure which level fits, use 축하합니다 in a card, workplace message, or first conversation.
Arabic: Written and Spoken Forms Differ
تهانينا (tahanina) is a Modern Standard Arabic form that works well in formal writing and across regional audiences. مبروك (mabrouk) is extremely common in conversation, but pronunciation and related expressions vary across Arabic dialects.
For a message going to readers in several Arabic-speaking countries, the Modern Standard form avoids choosing one regional dialect.
Hebrew: Mazal Tov Comes After the Good News
Although מזל טוב (mazal tov) literally refers to good fortune, its everyday role is “Congratulations.” It celebrates something that has happened, such as a birth, wedding, graduation, or achievement. It is not normally the same as wishing someone luck before a test or performance.
That distinction is useful beyond Hebrew: a phrase that celebrates success is not always interchangeable with a phrase that wishes someone good luck.
Match the Message to the Occasion
| Occasion | What to include | Example in English |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation | Name the qualification or milestone | “Congratulations on graduating!” |
| New job or promotion | Mention the role or achievement | “Congratulations on your promotion to team lead.” |
| Wedding or engagement | Address the couple when appropriate | “Congratulations to you both on your wedding.” |
| New baby | Congratulate the parent or family, not the baby | “Congratulations on the arrival of your daughter.” |
| Award or competition | Name what the person earned | “Congratulations on winning the design award.” |
| Birthday | Check whether the language uses the same phrase | Portuguese Parabéns works; many languages use a distinct birthday greeting |
A specific message feels warmer than a standalone phrase. It also reduces ambiguity: “Congratulations on your new role” cannot be mistaken for a birthday greeting.
Write a Complete Congratulations Message
Use this simple pattern:
Congratulations + achievement + personal wish
Congratulations on completing your degree. You worked hard for this, and I hope you enjoy celebrating with your family.
Keep names, job titles, qualifications, and dates unchanged unless they have an established local form. For a longer card or work message, OpenL Translate can translate the complete sentence rather than replacing “congratulations” in isolation. Review the relationship and level of formality before sending it.
After the recipient replies, this guide to saying thank you in 20 languages helps complete the exchange.
FAQ
Can I use one congratulations phrase for every occasion?
Not always. The general phrase is usually understood, but birthdays, weddings, religious celebrations, and professional achievements may have conventional wording. Name the occasion and check whether it requires a special greeting.
Are the pronunciation guides exact?
No. They are rough cues for English speakers. Mandarin and Vietnamese tones, Japanese vowel length, German vowels, Arabic consonants, and several other sounds need native audio or IPA for accurate pronunciation.
What is the difference between congratulations and good luck?
Congratulations normally responds to good news or an achievement. Good luck looks forward to an uncertain event. Say “Congratulations on passing the exam” afterward, but “Good luck on the exam” beforehand.
Sources
- Omniglot: Congratulations in many languages - comparative phrase list used to cross-check the 20 core expressions and common alternatives.
- Wiktionary: congratulations - definition, usage example, and multilingual translation references.
- Wiktionary: おめでとうございます - Japanese romanization, pronunciation, meaning, and relationship to the shorter form.
- Wiktionary: 축하하다 - Korean verb, pronunciation, conjugation, and a usage example with 축하합니다.
- Wiktionary: מזל טוב - Hebrew meaning, romanization, and congratulatory use.
- Wiktionary: مبروك - Arabic meaning, transliteration, and dialectal usage.
- OpenL Translate - official OpenL text translation page.
