How to Say Congratulations in French: 15+ Expressions for Every Occasion

The Short Answer

The most common way to say congratulations in French is Félicitations (fay-lee-see-tah-SYOHN). It covers weddings, graduations, new jobs, births, and almost every other achievement worth celebrating. For a casual "well done," Bravo! works in every setting, while Chapeau! ("hat!") is a distinctly French way to express genuine admiration.

French is spoken by approximately 321 million people across 29 countries, according to the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie's 2022 report. With that global reach, congratulatory expressions vary in formality, from the elegant Toutes mes félicitations in a Parisian boardroom to a simple Super! among friends in Montreal.

"The speech acts of congratulating and complimenting are among the most culturally specific in any language. What counts as an appropriate response to good news reveals deep assumptions about social relationships, modesty, and the proper display of emotion."

(Anna Wierzbicka, Cross-Cultural Pragmatics, Mouton de Gruyter)

This guide covers 15+ French congratulatory expressions organized by formality and occasion. Each includes pronunciation, an example sentence, and cultural context so you know exactly when to use it.

Quick Reference: French Congratulations at a Glance

Standard Congratulatory Expressions

These two expressions are the workhorses of French congratulations. They work across every French-speaking country and in virtually any situation. According to Le Petit Robert, félicitations has been the standard congratulatory term since the 17th century.

Félicitations !

Félicitations is the first word any French speaker reaches for when celebrating someone's achievement. It works at formal galas and casual dinners alike.

One crucial linguistic detail: Félicitations is a plurale tantum, a noun that only exists in plural form in standard usage. Just as you would never say "a vacation" in French (it is always les vacances), you do not say une félicitation. The Académie française confirms this as standard usage in their 9th edition dictionary. This grammatical quirk catches many learners off guard.

Bravo !

Bravo crossed into French from Italian during the 18th century, originally used in opera houses to acclaim performers. It has since become one of the most common everyday congratulatory words.

An important difference from Italian: in Italian, bravo changes based on gender and number (brava for a woman, bravi for a group). In French, it never changes. You say Bravo! to a man, a woman, or a crowd. The Académie française treats it as a fully naturalized French exclamation with no grammatical variation.

Formal Congratulations

When a text message "Bravo!" won't do (think business emails, official ceremonies, or writing to someone you address with vous), these elevated expressions are essential. For more on navigating the tu/vous distinction in French, visit our French learning page.

Toutes mes félicitations

Adding toutes mes ("all my") before félicitations elevates the expression from a simple acknowledgment to a personal, warm endorsement. It is the go-to formula for wedding cards, retirement speeches, and formal emails announcing a colleague's promotion.

Je vous adresse mes plus sincères félicitations

This is the formal ceiling of French congratulations. You will encounter it in official letters from institutions, diplomatic correspondence, and formal award ceremonies. Using it with friends would provoke laughter. It is equivalent to writing "I hereby extend my most heartfelt felicitations" in English.

Bon travail

Bon travail sits in the professional sweet spot, acknowledging achievement without excessive enthusiasm. In French workplace culture, which tends to favor measured rather than exuberant praise, this strikes exactly the right tone. A study by the OIF found that French professional communication consistently uses more restrained congratulatory language than its Anglophone equivalents.

Casual Congratulations

Among friends, family, and people you tutoie (address with tu), these relaxed expressions feel natural and sincere.

Chapeau !

Chapeau! is one of the most charming French expressions. It derives from chapeau bas ("hats off"), referencing the old custom of removing your hat to show respect. Over time, the bas was dropped, leaving just Chapeau! (literally "Hat!") to express admiration.

What makes Chapeau! special is its tone. While Bravo is pure enthusiasm, Chapeau carries a note of genuine respect and even slight awe. You use it when someone has done something truly impressive: run a marathon, defended a difficult thesis, pulled off a complicated recipe. It says "I am genuinely impressed by what you accomplished."

Super !

Super is the French equivalent of "Awesome!" or "Great!" in response to good news. It is punchy, universally understood, and works across all French-speaking countries. You will hear it dozens of times a day in France, from children to grandparents.

Bien joué !

Literally "well played," this expression originated in sports but has expanded to celebrate any achievement that involved skill, cleverness, or strategic thinking. Got a great deal on a car? Bien joué! Aced a difficult interview? Bien joué!

C'est génial !

Where Bravo acknowledges the achievement itself, C'est génial! emphasizes your emotional reaction to the news. It says "I am thrilled for you" rather than simply "Good job." Use it when you want to convey personal excitement about a friend's good news.

Je suis fier/fière de toi

This is the most personal expression on this list. It goes beyond acknowledging an achievement; it affirms the person's effort and character. Parents say it to children, partners say it to each other, and close friends use it for major milestones. Note the gender agreement: a male speaker says fier, a female speaker says fière.

Occasion-Specific Congratulations

French has tailored expressions for life's major milestones. Using the right one shows cultural fluency beyond textbook knowledge.

Weddings

The most common expression at French weddings is Félicitations aux mariés ! (Congratulations to the newlyweds!). In formal wedding cards, you might write Tous nos voeux de bonheur (All our wishes for happiness). Importantly, French wedding etiquette dictates that you congratulate the groom but offer voeux (wishes) to the bride, though this old-fashioned distinction is fading among younger generations.

Births

When a baby arrives, Félicitations works perfectly, but you can also add warmth with specific expressions.

Graduations and Exams

France's education system has specific milestones: the baccalauréat (bac) at 18, the concours (competitive exams) for elite schools, and university diplômes. Each calls for congratulations.

Professional Achievements

How to Respond to Congratulations in French

When someone congratulates you, the French cultural expectation leans toward modesty rather than enthusiastic acceptance. Here are the most natural responses:

Regional Differences: France vs. Quebec

While Félicitations is universal across all French-speaking regions, celebration culture differs notably between France and Quebec. According to Ethnologue, approximately 7.3 million native French speakers live in Canada, primarily in Quebec, where a distinct Francophone culture has developed over four centuries.

In France, congratulations tend toward verbal elegance: a well-turned phrase, a sincere Chapeau, a glass of champagne. In Quebec, celebrations often borrow energy from North American culture while retaining French vocabulary. You might hear Félicitations! followed by a hearty handshake or even a hug, which would be less common in metropolitan France.

Quebecois French also has some unique casual expressions:

Note that écoeurant literally means "sickening" but in Quebec slang, it is a strong positive, similar to how "sick" can mean "amazing" in English. Context and tone make the meaning clear.

Practice with Real French Content

Reading about congratulatory expressions is a solid start, but hearing them in natural conversation is what makes them stick. French films and shows are full of celebration scenes, from wedding toasts in romantic comedies to exam results in coming-of-age dramas.

Wordy lets you watch French movies and shows with interactive subtitles, so you can tap on any expression to see its meaning, pronunciation, and cultural context. Instead of memorizing phrases from a list, you absorb them from real conversations with authentic intonation and emotion.

For more French content, browse our blog for guides on everything from the best movies to learn French to greetings, farewells, and expressions of love. Visit our French learning page to start practicing today.