congratulations: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
HighNeutral to formal (context-dependent)
Quick answer
What does “congratulations” mean?
An expression of praise or approval for someone's achievement or good fortune.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An expression of praise or approval for someone's achievement or good fortune.
A formal or informal acknowledgment of success, often in celebratory contexts like graduations, promotions, weddings, or competitions.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Spelling identical. US speakers may use 'Congrats' more frequently as informal shorthand. UK usage retains slightly more formality in written contexts.
Connotations
Equally positive in both varieties. No significant connotative differences.
Frequency
Very high frequency in both varieties, with US English showing slightly higher informal abbreviation usage.
Grammar
How to Use “congratulations” in a Sentence
Congratulations on [noun phrase/gerund]Congratulations to [person] for [achievement]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “congratulations” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- I must congratulate you on your brilliant result.
- They congratulated her on passing her driving test.
American English
- We congratulated him on his promotion.
- She congratulated the team on a job well done.
adverb
British English
- He smiled congratulatorily at his colleague's success.
- She nodded congratulatorily after the announcement.
American English
- They patted him congratulatorily on the back.
- The crowd cheered congratulatorily.
adjective
British English
- A congratulatory telegram arrived from the Queen.
- He received a congratulatory handshake.
American English
- She sent a congratulatory email to the entire department.
- The card had a congratulatory message inside.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in emails and announcements for promotions, successful deals, or work anniversaries.
Academic
Common in graduation ceremonies, thesis defenses, and publication acknowledgments.
Everyday
Birthdays, weddings, new babies, personal achievements.
Technical
Rare in technical contexts except for professional awards or breakthroughs.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “congratulations”
- Using singular 'congratulation' (incorrect as exclamation)
- Saying 'congratulation for' instead of 'congratulations on'
- Overusing in overly formal contexts where 'well done' suffices
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Only in rare, formal, singular noun contexts (e.g., 'a letter of congratulation'), never as an exclamation. Almost always use the plural 'congratulations'.
Yes, but tone and context indicate sarcasm (e.g., 'Congratulations, you've broken it now'). This is informal and context-dependent.
'Felicitations' is more formal, literary, and less common in everyday speech. 'Congratulations' is the standard term in modern English.
No, 'congrats' is informal shorthand. Use 'congratulations' in formal emails, letters, and speeches.
An expression of praise or approval for someone's achievement or good fortune.
Congratulations: in British English it is pronounced /kənˌɡrætʃʊˈleɪʃ(ə)nz/, and in American English it is pronounced /kənˌɡrætʃəˈleɪʃənz/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Congratulations are in order”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: CON (together) + GRAT (pleasing, as in 'gratitude') + ULATIONS (actions) → actions expressing shared pleasure.
Conceptual Metaphor
ACHIEVEMENT IS A GIFT (we 'offer' congratulations), SUCCESS IS ELEVATION ('raised' in congratulations).
Practice
Quiz
Which preposition typically follows 'congratulations'?