Other ways to say congratulations: 26 phrases for every occasion
The most common other ways to say congratulations are “Congrats!” and “Well done!”, “So proud of you!” for people close to you, and “You thoroughly deserve it” at work. Below are 26 phrases sorted by situation and occasion, how to reply when someone congratulates you, and the small mistakes that learners often make.
By The YoFluent teamUpdated 5 min read
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At work (8)
| Say | Use it for | Example or note |
|---|---|---|
| Well done! | Colleagues, team members | “Well done on the presentation!” |
| Great job! | Anyone, especially at work | Very common in American English. |
| Congratulations on your promotion. | A colleague promoted | Formal and safe. |
| You thoroughly deserve it. | After a promotion or award | Shows the success was earned. |
| I’m really pleased for you. | A colleague’s good news | Warm, professional. |
| Hats off to you. | Admiring someone’s effort | Informal compliment. |
| Kudos! | Team chat, informal | “Kudos to the design team for the launch.” |
| Congratulations on the new role, well deserved! | A LinkedIn comment | Short and professional. |
To friends and family (9)
| Say | Use it for | Example or note |
|---|---|---|
| Congrats! | Friends, any good news | Short for congratulations. |
| Way to go! | Friends, family, American | Enthusiastic. |
| Nice one! | Friends, British | Casual praise. |
| You did it! | Someone who worked hard for something | Excited and warm. |
| I knew you could do it! | A friend who was worried | Supportive. |
| So proud of you! | Family, close friends | Emotional and warm. |
| That’s amazing news! | Any good news | Reacts to the news itself. |
| You smashed it! | Exams, a performance (UK) | Very casual. |
| Yay! 🎉 | Text | Add an emoji in messages. |
For special occasions (9)
| Say | Use it for | Example or note |
|---|---|---|
| Congratulations on your graduation! | Graduation | Add “What’s next?” to keep talking. |
| All that hard work paid off. | Exams, results | Recognises the effort. |
| Congratulations on your engagement! | Engagement | Then ask: “Have you set a date?” |
| Wishing you both a lifetime of happiness. | Wedding card | Formal and warm. |
| Congratulations on your new arrival! | New baby | Also “Welcome to the world, little one!” |
| Happy for you both! | Couples: engagement, wedding, new home | Simple and kind. |
| Congratulations on your new home! | Moving house | Or “Enjoy the new place!” |
| Best of luck in your new job! | New job | Mixes congratulations and good luck. |
| Cheers to you! | Raising a glass, celebrations | Said while making a toast. |
How to reply to congratulations
| Situation | Reply |
|---|---|
| Colleague or manager | “Thank you, I really appreciate it.” · “Thanks, it was a team effort.” |
| Friend | “Thanks so much!” · “Aw, thank you!” |
| LinkedIn comment | “Thank you, [name]!” (a short reply to each person is enough) |
| Someone who helped you | “Thank you, I couldn’t have done it without you.” |
Common mistakes
- “Congratulation!” It is always plural: congratulations.
- “Congratulations for…” Use “on”: congratulations on your exam results.
- “Many many congratulations”. Common in Indian English; “Many congratulations” (British) or “Huge congratulations” sounds more natural to other speakers.
- “Congrats” in a formal card. Write “Congratulations” in full in formal messages.
More everyday phrases
See other ways to say good luck, other ways to say thank you and other ways to say I love you.
Frequently asked questions
What is another way to say congratulations?
Common alternatives are “Congrats!”, “Well done!”, “Great job!”, “Way to go!”, “So proud of you!” and, at work, “You thoroughly deserve it.”
How do you say congratulations professionally?
Say “Congratulations on your promotion”, “Well deserved” or “I’m really pleased for you.” On LinkedIn, “Congratulations on the new role, well deserved!” is short and professional.
Is it “congratulations on” or “congratulations for”?
“Congratulations on” is correct: congratulations on your wedding, on your new job, on passing your exam.
How do you reply to congratulations?
Say “Thank you, I really appreciate it” at work, “Thanks so much!” to friends, or “Thank you, I couldn’t have done it without you” to someone who helped.
Is “congrats” rude?
No. “Congrats” is a friendly, informal short form. Use it with friends, colleagues you know and in messages; write “Congratulations” in formal cards and emails.
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