Verb
/fe.li.θiˈtaɾ/ (Castilian Spanish)
/feli.siˈtaɾ/ (Latin American Spanish)
The verb "felicitar" is used in the Spanish language to express the act of congratulating someone, often for their achievements, milestones, or special occasions. It is a transitive verb, meaning it requires a direct object (the person being congratulated).
Frequency of Use
"Felicitar" is a common verb in both oral and written contexts, especially during celebrations such as birthdays, weddings, graduations, and holidays like Christmas and New Year.
Felicitamos a nuestra amiga por su nuevo trabajo.
We congratulate our friend on her new job.
Me gustaría felicitarte por tu cumpleaños.
I would like to congratulate you on your birthday.
El profesor felicitó a los estudiantes por sus buenos resultados.
The teacher congratulated the students on their good results.
"Felicitar" is often part of idiomatic expressions, especially in contexts of goodwill and celebration.
Felicitaciones por tu logro.
Congratulations on your achievement.
Te deseo muchas felicidades en el año nuevo.
I wish you much happiness in the New Year.
Felicitaciones, ¡te lo mereces!
Congratulations, you deserve it!
Siempre hay razones para felicitar a los que queremos.
There is always a reason to congratulate those we love.
No olvides felicitar a tus padres en su aniversario.
Don't forget to congratulate your parents on their anniversary.
The word "felicitar" comes from the Latin "felicitas," which means "happiness" or "good fortune." The term evolved through the influence of Spanish phonetics and morphology.
Synonyms
- Alabar (to praise)
- Celebrar (to celebrate)
- Reconocer (to acknowledge)
Antonyms
- Criticar (to criticize)
- Desaprobar (to disapprove)
This structured breakdown gives a comprehensive view of the word "felicitar," including its meaning, usage, idiomatic expressions, and related linguistic aspects.