Many people simply say felicidades when they congratulate someone. Although it’s possible to use it in all kind of situations, it can soon become boring to say felicidades all the time. That’s why you should use the word enhorabuena from time to time as well.
But what’s the difference between felicidades and enhorabuena? Is there even one? And when do you use which one? First all, there is a difference between the two. It’s a small difference, but there’s one. Second of all, you use felicidades when it’s someone’s birthday. Can you use enhorabuena as well? No! Don’t fall in the trap to use in this context. Also, when someone graduated or passed a test enhorabuena is used instead of felicidades. For the rest, you can use both words pretty much for the same things (if there aren’t other exceptions I’m not aware of. Natives who can tell something about this?).
In English, you can translate enhorabuena to ‘congratulations’ or ‘to congratulate somebody’ (although the word itself isn’t a verb).
Sentences
¡Enhorabuena!
Congratulations!
Tengo que darte la enhorabuena.
I must congratulate you.
Le dieron la enhorabuena por su aprobado.
They congratulated him because of his pass.
*Sentences taken from “EsPasa diccionario de la lengua española” and “Pocket Oxford Spanish Dictionary”.
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{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
I was told once that “felicidades” is said over happy occasions that the person has no control over (like a birthday, birth of a child, winning the lottery, etc.) where as “enhorabuena” was used in situations where some kind of extended effort or hard work had to take place before the person achieved whatever is that you’re congratulating them about. For example, graduating from university, landing a huge contract, winning a prize recognizing professional or academic achievement, etc.
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Well as a native speaker I wouldn’t have to add much to this post. It is evident that we use the words without thinking much on the correct use. They simply pop up. I say felicidades for any anniversary. I could use it for some special occasions on which the addressee is specially happy about receiving important long awaited news, prize, etc. Enhorabuena I feel like more impersonal, at least when I use it. But yes I guess both words could be used indistinctly. I believe there are people that use one more than the other for no special reason. It depends on your background, the situation. For anniversaries it is always better felicidades, the rest suit yourself. Great post.
I think eleena gave the better explanation. Just to mention, “enhorabuena” means literally “in good time”, so as expected, it is used after someone got something was looking for. “Felicidades” comes from “Feliz”, “Happy” in English, so it fits better when something that makes someone just happened, like a birthday, (even if some people are not so happy about it
)
Anyways, you can use both with a sarcastic meaning when someone is telling you something you are not interested about…
I found these replies very helpful and intresting as I always wondered what the difference was. A Spanish native once told me you only use “enhorabuena” if someone has just has a baby. That would fit with achievement afer considerable effort (in my experience anyway)!.
Interesting explanation Eleena. Never heard of it though. Will ask my professor Friday.
Impressive Eleena, very well explained, because even being Spaniard I never thought about this little differences.
@eleena: so I guess the English equivalent of “enhorabuena” would be something like “well done!”, which you would say to congratulate someone on an achievement, but not for, say, a birthday.
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