Do we say "congratulations on" or "congratulations for"?

When it comes to celebrating someone's big moments, like a promotion or a new project, how we say our congrats really does matter. It's all about choosing the right phrase — "congratulations on" or "congratulations for." Lucky for you, we've got this covered!

Congratulations on

The phrase "congratulations on" is used when celebrating specific events or milestones. It's usually followed by a noun or gerund (-ing form of a verb). Here are some examples:

"Congratulations on your promotion!"

"Congratulations on your wedding anniversary!"

"Congratulations on starting your new business!"

"Congratulations on passing your exams!"

Congratulations for

Conversely, "congratulations for" is used to acknowledge specific achievements, actions or efforts. It's often followed by a gerund (-ing form of a verb) to describe what someone has done. Some examples include:

"Congratulations for putting in the effort to win the photography contest!"

"Congratulations for working so hard to finish the race!"

"Congratulations for dedicating yourself to reaching your fundraising goal!"

"Congratulations for your commitment to mastering a new language!"

Why not "congratulations to"?

It's important to note that "congratulations to" is not typically used as a standalone phrase in English to express good wishes. Instead, "to" is used to specify who the congratulations are directed toward, followed by the reason for the message. For example:

"Congratulations to Sarah on her new job!" Here, "to Sarah" identifies the recipient, followed by the reason.

"Congratulations to the team for their outstanding performance!" Again, "to the team" specifies who is being congratulated, followed by the reason.

Congratulations on making it this far! Now that you've got this down, go ahead and put it into practice.

For a more interactive experience in learning these phrases, check out our Daily Dose of Denglisch Docs series.