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# congratulation

«congratulation» in Mova's school dictionary: **Congratulations: words you say to show you are happy for…** — its meaning for a pupil, its sense in the lessons and examples, with 3 sentences of Mova's corpora that use it.

### part of speech

noun (congratulation, congratulations) — almost always plural; interjection (Congratulations!)

### meaning for a pupil

1) Congratulations: words you say to show you are happy for someone who has done well or had good news. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/congratulation/#m1)

2) Congratulations! — an exclamation said to someone on their success or happy event. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/congratulation/#m2)

3) (formal, singular) The act of congratulating someone: «a letter of congratulation». [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/congratulation/#m3)

### sense in the lessons

Used on cards, in speeches, assemblies, sports days and family news (a new baby, a wedding, passing a test). It tells the reader that someone is praised and others share their joy. Phrases: «Congratulations on …», «Congratulations to …», «send my congratulations», «a card of congratulation», «Congrats!» (informal). Sometimes said sarcastically when someone did something silly: «Well, congratulations, you broke it.»

### examples

- Congratulations on winning the spelling bee! [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/congratulation/#x1)
- Congratulations to Year 5 for the best attendance this term. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/congratulation/#x2)
- Please give my congratulations to your sister on her new baby. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/congratulation/#x3)
- We all signed a card of congratulation for our teacher's wedding. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/congratulation/#x4)
- The head teacher read out a list of congratulations in assembly. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/congratulation/#x5)
- "I passed my swimming test!" "Congrats, that's brilliant!" [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/congratulation/#x6)
- Oh, congratulations, you've spilt juice on the homework again (sarcastic). [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/congratulation/#x7)
- The mayor sent a letter of congratulation to the winning team. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/congratulation/#x8)

### note

The everyday form is the plural «congratulations», even to one person. Use «on» for the thing done: «congratulations on your win», and «to» for the person: «congratulations to Ben». Spelling trap: it is «congratulations» with a T in the middle, not «congradulations» (people mix it up with «graduation»). «Congrats» is informal.

### In the corpora

- [Families don't owe the street their news first; when a baby arrives, the kind reply is «congratulations».](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/adult-life/42-our-street-feuds-newcomers-and-stories-that-grow/15/)
- [Example: a boy in Ontario gets a pop-up: «Congratulations!](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/281-advert-tricks-and-too-good-offers/6/)
- [The judge smiles, signs the papers and says, «Congratulations.» Then he gives her a teddy from a basket.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/522-adoption/5/)

### Trees and pragmatics

[Every meaning and example of «congratulation» parsed by Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/congratulation/), each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.