ABA Journal The digital English academy
There is nothing more beautiful than sharing a happy and important moment with friends. The best way to participate in the joy and accomplishments of others is to simply be there and congratulate them with all of your heart. There are many different occasions and circumstances in which you might need to congratulate someone such as births, marriages, or receiving diplomas, as well as many more.
If the other party is an English-speaking person, do not let yourself be caught by surprise without being prepared. Read the following article and choose the most appropriate way to congratulate them.
1. Congratulations
This is the most common and suitable expression to congratulate someone. It is a word that goes back to the 15th century. It comes from the Latin congratulationem made up of cum (together) and gratulari (to show joy). For that reason, it expresses the desire to share in the joy and achievements of someone. Some prefer to use the abbreviated and more informal congrats.
I am so happy you have achieved your goal in such a great way. Congratulations!
Congratulations on your beautiful new daughter!
2. Felicitations
This expression is more formal and a little less widespread. It comes from the Latin felicitare (to make happy) and appeared in the singular in the 18th century. In the 19th century it was very popular, but nowadays it is used very little.
I offer you my felicitations on your speech.
I should express my felicitations on your marriage.
3. Three Cheers
The term cheers goes back to the late 12th century or early 13th century. It is derived from the Greek kára which means “head.” In the United Kingdom, cheers can also be used as a toast or to mean “thank you.” The term was probably born in the nautical world, as Daniel Defoe states in Captain Singleton (1720): “We gave them a cheer, as the seamen call it.” The number three, in this expression, indicates emphasis. This is an informal way to congratulate someone.
Three cheers for your newborn baby!
Three cheers for Manchester Football Club’s great victory!
4. Kudos
Kudos is derived from the Greek kydos (glory) and was born as a word with an ironic meaning. It seems that, in fact, the word was used for the first time in English by the poet Robert Southey, who, when writing about the naming of William Cavendish-Bentick, Duke of Portland, as Chancellor of Oxford, commented that the duke’s coat was “kudos’d egregiously in heathen Greek.” Despite this, in the 19th century, the term was extended to the university environment with the meaning of “felicitations.” Later, in the 20th century, it became a widespread and common expression. It is generally used to congratulate a person who has achieved an important accomplishment either in their career or in their social position.
As an actor, he has earned a certain amount of kudos.
Kudos to the writer for creating such a wonderful story.
Other Expressions
The expressions that follow are other common phrases used to congratulate someone.
Well done!
Good job!
You did it!
Good on you!
That’s the way!
Fantastic!
I’m impressed!
What a wonderful talk. I was impressed!
You graduated! You did it!
I knew you could do it. Well done!
These are some of the most popular expressions used to congratulate someone in English.
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Thanks
This explanation is very useful for US .
Thank you. This explanation is very useful for US.