gratulacje
/ɡra.tuˈla.t͡sjɛ/
The English phrase "congrats" is translated into Polish as gratulacje.
gratulacje is the straightforward and universally recognized term for congratulations. While it is a noun, it is commonly used as a standalone exclamation to congratulate someone on an achievement, such as Gratulacje! For a warmer tone, you can say Serdeczne gratulacje, which means "heartfelt congratulations".
Meaning: congratulations (intj)
Which one should you use?
If you prefer to use a verb instead of the noun, you can use gratuluję to say "I congratulate (you)".
How does it change in a sentence?
gratulacje is a nominative plural noun. However, if you want to say "congratulations on [something]", you must use the genitive form gratulacji.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has 4 syllables, with the stress on the 3rd syllable: /ɡra.tuˈla.tsjɛ/.
Did you know?
- If you are at a celebration like a birthday or wedding, you might hear the phrase sto lat instead of a word meaning 'congratulations'. This literally translates to 'one hundred years' and serves as a toast for longevity and success.
- To express praise for a specific feat, Polish speakers frequently use Brawo!, a loanword from Italian that replaces gratulacje in casual settings.
- The Polish word gratulacje comes from the Latin grātulātiō, making it a distant relative of the archaic English word 'gratulation'.
Examples in context
- Serdeczne gratulacje z okazji zdobycia awansu! Życzę Ci dalszych sukcesów w twojej karierze.Heartfelt congratulations on your promotion! I wish you continued success in your career.
- Brawo! Wygrałeś konkurs malarski! Twoje prace są równie inspirujące, jak zawsze.Bravo! You won the painting competition! Your artworks are as inspiring as ever.
- Mega! Przyjęli cię na wymarzone studia. Wiedziałem, że ci się uda!Amazing! You got accepted into your dream university. I knew you could do it!
- Moje szczere gratulacje.My sincere congratulations.
- Przyjmij moje gratulacje.Please accept my congratulations.
- Wielkie gratulacje z okazji awansu!Big congratulations on your promotion!
Example conversation
Małgorzata and Paweł are at a small cafe celebration.
- MałgorzataWielkie gratulacje z okazji ślubu, Pawle!Big congratulations on your wedding, Paweł!
- PawełDziękuję bardzo, Małgorzato.Thank you very much, Małgorzata.
- MałgorzataJesteście bardzo szczęśliwą parą.You are a very happy couple.
- PawełTo bardzo miłe z twojej strony.That is very kind of you.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry gratulacje, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries gratulacje, CC BY-SA 4.0.
