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A1 verb #2,200 most common 6 min read

Celebrar

Q: Can 'celebrar' be used for both big parties and small accomplishments?

Yes, absolutely! 'Celebrar' is versatile. You can use it for big events like birthdays or weddings, and also for smaller achievements like finishing a project or getting good news. Example: 'Vamos a celebrar tu ascenso.' (We are going to celebrate your promotion.)

Q: Does 'celebrar' have any other meanings besides celebrating?

While its primary meaning is 'to celebrate,' 'celebrar' can also mean 'to hold' or 'to officiate' in a more formal context, especially for events or ceremonies. Example: 'Se celebró la boda en la iglesia.' (The wedding was held in the church.)

Q: How do you conjugate 'celebrar' in the present tense?

Here's the present tense conjugation for 'celebrar' : Yo celebro (I celebrate) Tú celebras (You celebrate) Él/Ella/Usted celebra (He/She/You celebrate) Nosotros/Nosotras celebramos (We celebrate) Vosotros/Vosotras celebráis (You all celebrate - Spain) Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes celebran (They/You all celebrate)

Q: Is there a noun form of 'celebrar'?

Yes, the noun form related to 'celebrar' is 'la celebración' (the celebration). Example: 'La celebración fue muy divertida.' (The celebration was very fun.)

Q: Can I use 'festejar' instead of 'celebrar'?

Yes, 'festejar' is another common verb for 'to celebrate' or 'to feast,' and it's often interchangeable with 'celebrar.' It sometimes has a slightly more festive or party-like connotation. Example: 'Vamos a festejar tu cumpleaños.' (We are going to celebrate your birthday.)

Q: How would I say 'We are celebrating Christmas'?

You would say 'Estamos celebrando la Navidad.' The present progressive tense works well here.

Q: What's a good phrase to wish someone a happy celebration?

A good phrase is '¡Feliz celebración!' (Happy celebration!) or more commonly, specific to an event like '¡Feliz cumpleaños!' (Happy birthday!) or '¡Feliz aniversario!' (Happy anniversary!).

Top 2,200

When we use the Spanish verb 'celebrar,' it generally means 'to celebrate.' However, it can also mean 'to hold' or 'to observe' an event, like a meeting or a holiday. For example, 'La reunión se celebra en la sala principal' means 'The meeting is held in the main hall.' Another common use is 'celebrar un contrato,' which means 'to enter into a contract' or 'to sign a contract.' So, while celebration is its primary meaning, keep an eye out for these other contexts where it takes on a slightly different nuance.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

Now that you know what 'celebrar' means, let's look at how to use it in sentences. It's a common verb, so you'll hear it a lot. This section will help you understand its grammar and how it works with other words.

§ Basic Sentence Structure

'Celebrar' usually works like many other Spanish verbs. You'll use it with a subject (who is celebrating) and an object (what is being celebrated). It's a regular '-ar' verb, which makes its conjugations fairly straightforward once you know the patterns.

DEFINITION: To celebrate; to observe a day or event with festivities.

Nosotros celebramos el cumpleaños de mi hermana.

Translation hint: We celebrate my sister's birthday.

Ellos celebran el Año Nuevo con fuegos artificiales.

Translation hint: They celebrate New Year's with fireworks.

§ Common Tenses for 'Celebrar'

You'll mostly use 'celebrar' in the present, past (preterite and imperfect), and future tenses. Here's a quick look at each.

§ Present Tense

Use the present tense when talking about celebrations happening now or regularly.

Yo celebro (I celebrate)
Tú celebras (You celebrate)
Él/Ella/Usted celebra (He/She/You formal celebrate)
Nosotros/Nosotras celebramos (We celebrate)
Vosotros/Vosotras celebráis (You all celebrate - Spain)
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes celebran (They/You all formal celebrate)

Cada año, mi familia celebra la Navidad en casa.

Translation hint: Every year, my family celebrates Christmas at home.

§ Preterite (Simple Past) Tense

Use the preterite for celebrations that happened and finished in the past.

Yo celebré (I celebrated)
Tú celebraste (You celebrated)
Él/Ella/Usted celebró (He/She/You formal celebrated)
Nosotros/Nosotras celebramos (We celebrated)
Vosotros/Vosotras celebrasteis (You all celebrated - Spain)
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes celebraron (They/You all formal celebrated)

Ayer celebramos el éxito del proyecto.

Translation hint: Yesterday we celebrated the success of the project.

§ Imperfect (Continuous Past) Tense

Use the imperfect for ongoing or habitual celebrations in the past, or to describe the setting of a past celebration.

Yo celebraba (I was celebrating / I used to celebrate)
Tú celebrabas (You were celebrating / You used to celebrate)
Él/Ella/Usted celebraba (He/She/You formal were celebrating / used to celebrate)
Nosotros/Nosotras celebrábamos (We were celebrating / We used to celebrate)
Vosotros/Vosotras celebrabais (You all were celebrating / used to celebrate - Spain)
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes celebraban (They/You all formal were celebrating / used to celebrate)

Cuando era niño, siempre celebrábamos mi cumpleaños en el parque.

Translation hint: When I was a child, we always celebrated my birthday in the park.

§ Future Tense

Use the future tense for celebrations that will happen.

Yo celebraré (I will celebrate)
Tú celebrarás (You will celebrate)
Él/Ella/Usted celebrará (He/She/You formal will celebrate)
Nosotros/Nosotras celebraremos (We will celebrate)
Vosotros/Vosotras celebraréis (You all will celebrate - Spain)
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes celebrarán (They/You all formal will celebrate)

El próximo mes, celebraremos la graduación de mi hermano.

Translation hint: Next month, we will celebrate my brother's graduation.

§ 'Celebrar' with Prepositions

'Celebrar' doesn't usually need a preposition right after it when it has a direct object (the thing being celebrated). For example, you say 'celebrar el cumpleaños' (celebrate the birthday), not 'celebrar *por* el cumpleaños'.

However, you might use prepositions to add more detail, like *cómo* or *dónde* something is celebrated.

§ 'Con' (With)

Use 'con' to describe what or who you are celebrating *with*.

Vamos a celebrar el éxito con una cena especial.

Translation hint: We are going to celebrate the success with a special dinner.

Quiero celebrar mi aniversario con mis amigos.

Translation hint: I want to celebrate my anniversary with my friends.

§ 'En' (In/At)

Use 'en' to indicate the place where the celebration is happening.

Vamos a celebrar la fiesta en mi casa.

Translation hint: We are going to celebrate the party at my house.

§ Common Phrases with 'Celebrar'

Here are some common ways you'll see 'celebrar' used in everyday Spanish.

Celebrar un cumpleaños: To celebrate a birthday
Mañana vamos a celebrar el cumpleaños de mi papá.
Translation hint: Tomorrow we are going to celebrate my dad's birthday.
Celebrar una victoria: To celebrate a victory
El equipo celebró su victoria con sus fans.
Translation hint: The team celebrated their victory with their fans.
Celebrar un aniversario: To celebrate an anniversary
Mis abuelos celebran su aniversario de bodas cada año.
Translation hint: My grandparents celebrate their wedding anniversary every year.
Celebrar una fiesta: To celebrate/have a party
Vamos a celebrar una fiesta para fin de año.
Translation hint: We are going to have a party for the end of the year.

As you can see, 'celebrar' is a versatile verb. Pay attention to the context, and you'll get the hang of it quickly.

§ Don't Confuse "Celebrar" with "Party"

Many English speakers, when they first learn "celebrar," think it's a direct translation for "to party." While celebrating often involves partying, the words aren't interchangeable. "Celebrar" is about marking an occasion, while "fiesta" (or its verb form "festejar") is more directly about the act of partying.

DEFINITION: To celebrate; to observe a day or event with festivities.

Vamos a celebrar el cumpleaños de mi hermano. (We are going to celebrate my brother's birthday.)

Hicimos una fiesta para celebrar su éxito. (We had a party to celebrate his success.)

§ Using "Celebrar" with Impersonal Subjects

Sometimes learners try to use "celebrar" in a way that implies an impersonal subject, similar to how you might say "it was celebrated" in English. While you can use the passive voice in Spanish, it's more common to rephrase.

Incorrect (direct translation attempt):

Se celebró mucho el evento. (The event was celebrated a lot.)

More natural:

La gente celebró mucho el evento. (People celebrated the event a lot.)

Fue un evento muy celebrado. (It was a very celebrated event.)

§ Forgetting Agreement with Past Participles

When using "celebrar" in compound tenses or as an adjective, remember that the past participle ("celebrado") needs to agree in gender and number with the noun it modifies.

Example of agreement:

El partido fue celebrado en el estadio. (The match was celebrated in the stadium. - Masculine singular)
La boda fue celebrada en la iglesia. (The wedding was celebrated in the church. - Feminine singular)
Los eventos fueron celebrados el fin de semana. (The events were celebrated over the weekend. - Masculine plural)
Las victorias fueron muy celebradas. (The victories were much celebrated. - Feminine plural)

How Formal Is It?

Formal

"La ciudad decidió conmemorar el centenario de su fundación con una serie de eventos especiales."

Neutral

"Vamos a celebrar la graduación de mi hermana este fin de semana."

Informal

"¡A festejar que hoy es viernes! ¡Nos vemos en el bar!"

Child friendly

"Los niños quieren celebrar el día de su fiesta de cumpleaños con muchos dulces y juegos."

Slang

"Mis amigos van a armar la fiesta en mi casa después del partido de fútbol."

Examples by Level

¡Hemos logrado un hito significativo en el proyecto, así que es momento de celebrar con todo el equipo!

We've reached a significant project milestone, so it's time to celebrate with the whole team!

Using 'es momento de' (it's time to) followed by an infinitive.

Aunque la situación económica es desafiante, siempre encontramos razones para celebrar la vida y la amistad.

Even though the economic situation is challenging, we always find reasons to celebrate life and friendship.

Using 'encontrar razones para' (to find reasons to) followed by an infinitive.

La ciudad se engalana para celebrar su bicentenario con desfiles y conciertos por doquier.

The city is adorned to celebrate its bicentennial with parades and concerts everywhere.

Using 'engalanarse' (to adorn oneself/itself) reflexively, and 'por doquier' (everywhere).

No hay mejor manera de celebrar un nuevo comienzo que dejando atrás el pasado y abrazando el futuro.

There's no better way to celebrate a new beginning than by leaving the past behind and embracing the future.

Using 'no hay mejor manera de' (there's no better way to) followed by an infinitive, and gerunds ('dejando', 'abrazando').

Después de un año de arduo trabajo, decidimos celebrar nuestros logros con una escapada a la playa.

After a year of hard work, we decided to celebrate our achievements with a beach getaway.

Using 'después de' (after) followed by a noun, and 'decidir + infinitivo' (to decide to + infinitive).

Es fundamental celebrar la diversidad cultural y promover la inclusión en todos los ámbitos de la sociedad.

It's fundamental to celebrate cultural diversity and promote inclusion in all areas of society.

Using 'es fundamental + infinitivo' (it's fundamental to + infinitive).

Siempre que hay una victoria, por pequeña que sea, nos gusta celebrarla con una buena cena y compañía.

Whenever there's a victory, however small, we like to celebrate it with a good dinner and company.

Using 'siempre que' (whenever), 'por pequeña que sea' (however small it may be), and the direct object pronoun 'la'.

Las comunidades indígenas celebran sus ritos ancestrales con profundo respeto por la tradición y la naturaleza.

Indigenous communities celebrate their ancestral rites with deep respect for tradition and nature.

Using 'con profundo respeto por' (with deep respect for).

Often Confused With

Celebrar vs Aniversario

You 'celebrar un aniversario' (celebrate an anniversary), but 'aniversario' itself is the noun for the occasion.

Celebrar vs Fiesta

A 'fiesta' is a party, which is a common way to 'celebrar', but 'celebrar' is the action, 'fiesta' is the event.

Celebrar vs Evento

An 'evento' is an event, which is what you 'celebrar'. 'Celebrar' is the verb, 'evento' is the noun it acts upon.

Grammar Patterns

Regular -ar verb conjugation in the present tense. Using 'celebrar' with direct objects (e.g., 'mi cumpleaños', 'la Navidad'). Using 'celebrar' with prepositions like 'en' (in/at) and 'con' (with). Forming simple questions with 'celebrar'. Using 'ir a + infinitivo' (to be going to + infinitive) with 'celebrar'. Using 'querer + infinitivo' (to want to + infinitive) with 'celebrar'.

Easily Confused

Celebrar vs Festejar

'Festejar' is often confused with 'celebrar' because both mean 'to celebrate'. However, 'festejar' implies a more lively and outwardly joyful celebration, often with a party or a fiesta.

Use 'festejar' when you're talking about actively partying or having a big celebration. 'Celebrar' is more general and can include quieter forms of observance.

Vamos a festejar el cumpleaños de María con una gran fiesta. (We are going to celebrate Maria's birthday with a big party.)

Celebrar vs Conmemorar

While 'conmemorar' also involves observing an event, it specifically refers to commemorating or remembering a past event, often with a solemn or formal tone. It's less about active celebration and more about remembrance.

Use 'conmemorar' for remembering historical events, anniversaries of deaths, or other significant, often more serious, occasions. 'Celebrar' is for joyful events.

Conmemoramos el aniversario de la independencia cada año. (We commemorate the anniversary of independence every year.)

Celebrar vs Cumplir

In some contexts, especially when talking about birthdays, 'cumplir años' (to turn a certain age) can be confused with 'celebrar'. While 'celebrar' is what you do on your birthday, 'cumplir' is the act of reaching that age.

You 'cumplir' years (you turn a certain age), and you 'celebrar' your birthday. They are related but distinct actions.

Mi hijo cumple cinco años mañana. (My son turns five tomorrow.)

Celebrar vs Honrar

'Honrar' means to honor, and while honoring can be part of a celebration, it's not the same thing. You honor someone's memory, for example, but you celebrate their life.

'Honrar' focuses on showing respect or veneration. 'Celebrar' focuses on observing an event with joy and festivities.

Queremos honrar a nuestros héroes con un monumento. (We want to honor our heroes with a monument.)

Celebrar vs Observar

The English definition of 'celebrar' includes 'to observe a day or event'. However, in Spanish, 'observar' primarily means to observe in the sense of watching or noticing. While you might 'observe' a holiday, 'celebrar' is the more common and direct verb for the act of celebrating.

Use 'observar' for watching, noticing, or following rules/traditions. Use 'celebrar' for the active celebration of an event.

Los científicos observan las estrellas por la noche. (Scientists observe the stars at night.)

Sentence Patterns

Yo celebro [evento].

Yo celebro mi cumpleaños. (I celebrate my birthday.)

Nosotros celebramos [evento].

Nosotros celebramos la Navidad. (We celebrate Christmas.)

¿Tú celebras [evento]?

¿Tú celebras el Año Nuevo? (Do you celebrate New Year's?)

Ellos celebran [evento] en [lugar].

Ellos celebran la boda en un restaurante. (They celebrate the wedding in a restaurant.)

[Sujeto] celebra [evento] con [gente/cosa].

Mi familia celebra la fiesta con amigos. (My family celebrates the party with friends.)

Hoy vamos a celebrar [evento].

Hoy vamos a celebrar tu éxito. (Today we are going to celebrate your success.)

Quiero celebrar [evento].

Quiero celebrar mi ascenso. (I want to celebrate my promotion.)

¿Qué vas a celebrar?

¿Qué vas a celebrar esta noche? (What are you going to celebrate tonight?)

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Birthdays (Cumpleaños):

¿Cómo celebras tu cumpleaños? (How do you celebrate your birthday?)
Vamos a celebrar su cumpleaños con una fiesta. (We're going to celebrate his/her birthday with a party.)
Siempre celebramos con pastel y amigos. (We always celebrate with cake and friends.)

Holidays (Días festivos):

¿Qué día festivo celebran en tu país? (What holiday do you celebrate in your country?)
Celebramos la Navidad en familia. (We celebrate Christmas with family.)
Mucha gente celebra el Año Nuevo con fuegos artificiales. (Many people celebrate New Year's with fireworks.)

Special occasions (Ocasiones especiales):

Celebramos nuestro aniversario cenando fuera. (We celebrate our anniversary by eating out.)
Es una buena razón para celebrar. (It's a good reason to celebrate.)
¿Quieres celebrar conmigo? (Do you want to celebrate with me?)

Victories/Achievements (Victorias/Logros):

¡Ganamos! ¡Hay que celebrar! (We won! We have to celebrate!)
Vamos a celebrar tu nuevo trabajo. (We're going to celebrate your new job.)
Celebraron el éxito con una cena especial. (They celebrated the success with a special dinner.)

Events/Milestones (Eventos/Hitos):

¿Cómo celebraron la graduación? (How did they celebrate the graduation?)
Quiero celebrar el fin de semana. (I want to celebrate the weekend.)
Es importante celebrar los pequeños logros. (It's important to celebrate small achievements.)

Conversation Starters

"¿Cómo celebraste tu último cumpleaños?"

"¿Cuál es tu día festivo favorito para celebrar?"

"¿Hay alguna ocasión especial que te guste celebrar cada año?"

"¿Cómo te gusta celebrar un buen logro o una victoria?"

"¿Qué planes tienes para celebrar el próximo fin de semana?"

Journal Prompts

Describe la mejor celebración a la que hayas asistido. ¿Qué la hizo especial?

Piensa en un momento en que celebraste un logro personal. ¿Cómo te sentiste y qué hiciste?

Si pudieras celebrar cualquier cosa en el mundo, ¿qué celebrarías y cómo?

¿Hay alguna tradición familiar para celebrar ciertos eventos? Descríbela.

¿Qué significa 'celebrar' para ti? ¿Es solo una fiesta o algo más profundo?

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

The most common and direct translation for 'to celebrate' in Spanish is 'celebrar'. It's a regular verb and widely used.

Yes, absolutely! 'Celebrar' is versatile. You can use it for big events like birthdays or weddings, and also for smaller achievements like finishing a project or getting good news.
Example: 'Vamos a celebrar tu ascenso.' (We are going to celebrate your promotion.)

While its primary meaning is 'to celebrate,' 'celebrar' can also mean 'to hold' or 'to officiate' in a more formal context, especially for events or ceremonies.
Example: 'Se celebró la boda en la iglesia.' (The wedding was held in the church.)

Here's the present tense conjugation for 'celebrar':
Yo celebro (I celebrate)
Tú celebras (You celebrate)
Él/Ella/Usted celebra (He/She/You celebrate)
Nosotros/Nosotras celebramos (We celebrate)
Vosotros/Vosotras celebráis (You all celebrate - Spain)
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes celebran (They/You all celebrate)

Yes, the noun form related to 'celebrar' is 'la celebración' (the celebration).
Example: 'La celebración fue muy divertida.' (The celebration was very fun.)

Yes, 'festejar' is another common verb for 'to celebrate' or 'to feast,' and it's often interchangeable with 'celebrar.' It sometimes has a slightly more festive or party-like connotation.
Example: 'Vamos a festejar tu cumpleaños.' (We are going to celebrate your birthday.)

You would say 'Estamos celebrando la Navidad.' The present progressive tense works well here.

A good phrase is '¡Feliz celebración!' (Happy celebration!) or more commonly, specific to an event like '¡Feliz cumpleaños!' (Happy birthday!) or '¡Feliz aniversario!' (Happy anniversary!).

No, not always. While often used with a direct object (e.g., 'celebrar un cumpleaños' - to celebrate a birthday), it can also be used intransitively, meaning without a direct object, if the context is clear.
Example: 'Estamos celebrando.' (We are celebrating.)

A common mistake is forgetting the article with specific events, like saying 'celebrar cumpleaños' instead of 'celebrar el cumpleaños' (to celebrate the birthday). Also, remember to use the correct prepositions if needed, though often 'celebrar' takes a direct object without one.