French word

féliciter

Pronunciation

IPA/felisite/

Meaning

  • verbcongratulate

Example

Je vais féliciter Marie pour son mariage.

I am going to congratulate Marie on her marriage.

Illustration for féliciter (congratulate)

More examples

Nous devons féliciter l'équipe pour son travail.

We must congratulate the team on its work.

Core concept

A speaker shares joy with someone by marking a happy event or achievement with words.

Common phrases

  • féliciter quelqu'un

    congratulate someone

  • féliciter quelqu'un de

    congratulate someone on something

Similar words

congratuler: Offer congratulations on a particular event or success.
fêter: Celebrate an event with a meal, gathering, or similar activity.
complimenter: Praise someone for a specific good quality or action.
souhaiter: Express wishes for someone's happiness or success.

Definition in French

Dire à quelqu'un des paroles pour marquer sa joie à l'occasion d'un événement heureux ou d'une réussite.

Word origin

French féliciter comes from Latin felicitare, based on felix, meaning "happy" or "fortunate."

Usage tips

  • The usual pattern is féliciter quelqu'un pour quelque chose, as in féliciter Marie pour son mariage.

Other meanings

  • praiseverb

Opposites

  • blâmerblameverb
  • réprimanderreprimandverb

Related words

  • félicitationscongratulationsnoun

Word lists with this word