How to Say Congratulations in French (Félicitations, Bravo)

Congratulations in French is félicitations — a mouthful that sounds exactly as celebratory as it looks. But French splits the job of “congrats” across two words: félicitations for achievements (a promotion, a degree, a wedding) and bravo for performances and well-done efforts (a great meal, a nailed presentation, a kid’s first bike ride). Knowing which to reach for is what makes your congratulations land like a native’s.

The main ways to say it

Félicitations — pronounced fay-lee-see-tah-SYOHN.

Bravo — pronounced brah-VOH.

Pronunciation notes:

• Félicitations stresses the final syllable: fay-lee-see-tah-SYOHN. The -tion ending is nasal, closer to “syohn” than the English “shun.”
• The accents (é) are “ay” sounds: fay-lee-see-tah-syohn.
• Bravo is straightforward — brah-VOH — the same word English borrowed, but with the stress cleanly on the second syllable and a pure “oh.”

Félicitations vs. bravo

• Félicitations — for achievements and milestones: a new job, passing an exam, an engagement, a baby, a big win. It’s the formal, “well done on this accomplishment” word.
• Bravo — for a job well done in the moment: a great performance, a delicious dinner, a clever solution, effort you witnessed. It’s warmer and more spontaneous, and it doubles as applause.

Often they combine: Bravo et félicitations pour ton diplôme !

Warmer and fuller versions

• Toutes mes félicitations — “my heartfelt congratulations.” Warmer, more personal.
• Félicitations à vous deux — “congratulations to you both” (weddings, new parents).
• Chapeau ! (sha-POH) — literally “hat!” — an idiom meaning “hats off to you,” admiring and slightly playful.
• Je suis fier / fière de toi (fee-YAIR) — “I’m proud of you.” Personal and affectionate.
• Bien joué (byan zhoo-AY) — “well played / nicely done.” Casual, friendly.
• Félicitations pour + noun: Félicitations pour ton mariage (“Congrats on your wedding”).

Hear it in context

Celebrating a promotion (warm, formal):

— J’ai eu la promotion ! Je deviens chef de projet. — Oh, toutes mes félicitations ! Tu le mérites vraiment. — Merci beaucoup, ça me touche.

I got the promotion! I’m becoming project manager. — Oh, congratulations! You really deserve it. — Thank you so much, that means a lot.

After a friend’s dinner (casual, spontaneous):

— Alors, ce risotto ? — Bravo, franchement ! C’était un des meilleurs que j’ai mangés. — Ah, chapeau à toi de le dire, merci !

So, how was the risotto? — Bravo, honestly! One of the best I’ve had. — Well, hats off to you for saying so, thanks!

Common mistakes

• Using félicitations for a great meal or performance. That’s bravo territory. Félicitations is for achievements and milestones, not for things done well in the moment.
• Saying “fee-lih-si-TAY-shuns.” It’s not the English “-tions.” Keep it French: fay-lee-see-tah-SYOHN, with a nasal ending.
• Forgetting félicitations is always plural. It ends in -s and takes no singular form here. It’s never une félicitation in this greeting.
• Overusing bravo formally. In a formal letter congratulating someone on a wedding, félicitations or toutes mes félicitations fits; a bare bravo can feel too light.
• Translating “congrats on” literally. Use félicitations pour + noun, e.g. félicitations pour ton diplôme, not félicitations sur.

A Parisian note

The French don’t gush the way American English does — a stacked “OMG congratulations, I’m SO happy for you!!!” can feel like a lot. A warm, sincere “Félicitations, tu le mérites” (“congratulations, you deserve it”) lands better than volume. At celebrations, congratulations usually come with a toast — santé ! — clinking glasses while making eye contact (skipping the eye contact is, per the superstition, bad luck). And for weddings and new babies, the classic printed or spoken formula is “Tous mes vœux de bonheur” (“all my wishes for your happiness”), a step more elegant than a plain félicitations.

Related phrases

• How to say happy birthday in French — the other big celebration phrase, with its own rituals.
• How to say good luck in French — for before the achievement you’ll later congratulate.
• Keep building your celebration vocabulary with our guide to common French phrases.

FAQ

What’s the difference between “félicitations” and “bravo”? Félicitations is for achievements and milestones — a promotion, a degree, a wedding. Bravo is for a job well done in the moment — a performance, a meal, a clever solution. Bravo is warmer and more spontaneous; félicitations is the formal “congratulations.”

Is “félicitations” singular or plural? Always plural in this greeting — it ends in -s. You wouldn’t say une félicitation to congratulate someone; it’s félicitations or toutes mes félicitations.

How do I say “congratulations on your wedding”? Félicitations pour ton mariage (informal) or toutes mes félicitations pour votre mariage (formal). You’ll also hear the elegant tous mes vœux de bonheur (“all my wishes for your happiness”).

What does “chapeau” mean as congratulations? Literally “hat,” it’s short for “hats off to you” — an admiring, slightly playful way to say “well done,” used when someone’s impressed you.

How do I say “I’m proud of you” in French? Je suis fier de toi (male speaker) or je suis fière de toi (female speaker). Both are pronounced the same (fee-YAIR) and are warm, personal ways to congratulate someone close.