How to Say Congratulations in French: Félicitations and Bravo
Congratulations in French is félicitations, pronounced /fay-lee-see-tah-SYOHN/. Get ready-to-send messages for graduations, new jobs, engagements and babies.
Congratulations in French is félicitations, pronounced /fay-lee-see-tah-SYOHN/. For a quick, casual “well done,” say bravo. For specific occasions: félicitations pour ton diplôme (graduation), pour ce nouveau poste (new job), or pour la naissance de… (new baby).
Quick answer
Congratulations in French is félicitations, pronounced /fay-lee-see-tah-SYOHN/. For a quick, casual “well done,” say bravo. For specific occasions: félicitations pour ton diplôme (graduation), pour ce nouveau poste (new job), or pour la naissance de… (new baby).
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Félicitations vs bravo
Félicitations suits achievements and milestones; bravo is shorter, more casual, and doubles as in-the-moment praise, similar to applauding.
Occasion-specific messages
| Occasion | Phrase |
|---|---|
| Graduation | félicitations pour ton diplôme |
| New job | félicitations pour ce nouveau poste |
| Engagement/wedding | tous mes vœux de bonheur |
| New baby | félicitations pour la naissance de [name] |
For the wider occasions cluster this belongs to, see French occasion wishes.
Responding to congratulations
Merci beaucoup, c’est gentil is the natural, warm reply - see how to say thank you in French for the full gratitude ladder this fits into.
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Questions about this note
What's the difference between félicitations and bravo?
Félicitations suits achievements/milestones; bravo is shorter and more casual, also used for applause.
How do you congratulate someone on a new job?
Félicitations pour ce nouveau poste !
How do you say congratulations on the baby?
Félicitations pour la naissance de [name] !
How do you respond to félicitations?
Merci beaucoup, c'est gentil.
Is bravo only for congratulations?
No - also used to praise performance, similar to applauding.