Spanish word

celebrar

Pronunciation

IPA/θeleˈβɾaɾ/

Meaning

  • verbcelebrate

Example

Vamos a celebrar tu cumpleaños mañana.

We're going to celebrate your birthday tomorrow.

Illustration for celebrar (celebrate)

More examples

Quieren celebrar el aniversario con fuegos artificiales.

They want to celebrate the anniversary with fireworks.

Core concept

A crowd gathered for a public ceremony.

Common phrases

  • celebrar un cumpleaños

    celebrate a birthday

  • celebrar una boda

    celebrate a wedding

  • celebrar el aniversario

    celebrate the anniversary

Similar words

festejar: Involves lively, informal partying and social fun for an occasion.
conmemorar: Remembers an anniversary or historical event through ceremonies or rites.
brindar: Expresses good wishes by raising a glass in a toast.
felicitar: Offers verbal congratulations directly to someone on a happy occasion.

Definition in Spanish

Mostrar alegría, respeto o recuerdo por un acontecimiento mediante palabras, actos o reuniones; emplearse tanto en contextos festivos como en ceremonias formales.

Word origin

From Latin celebrāre 'to honor publicly', from celeber 'frequented, crowded', and it develops the sense of marking or honoring events.

Usage tips

  • Use celebrar for formal ceremonies or to mark agreements, while festejar is more common for informal parties like birthdays.

Other meanings

  • holdverb
  • commemorateverb

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word