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A2 verb #4,000 most common 7 min read

felicitar

Top 4,000

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips felicitar in 30 Seconds

Explanation felicitar in your Level:

At the A1 level, you are just starting to learn how to express basic social courtesies. While 'felicitar' might seem a bit long, it is a very useful word to know because it follows the regular '-ar' verb pattern, which is the first group of verbs you learn. At this stage, you should focus on simple present tense sentences like 'Eu felicito você' (I congratulate you). You might use it to tell a friend 'Good job' in a slightly more formal way. Think of it as a step up from just saying 'Tudo bem?' or 'Oi'. Even if you don't use it every day, recognizing it when someone says it to you is important. You will often see it on birthday cards or social media posts. The most important thing for an A1 learner is to remember the sound: fe-li-ci-TAR. It sounds like 'felicity' in English, which means happiness. This connection makes it easier to remember that it's about making someone happy with your words. Try to practice the conjugation: eu felicito, você felicita, nós felicitamos. This will build your confidence in using regular verbs while also giving you a polite way to interact with Portuguese speakers. Don't worry about the complex prepositions yet; just focus on the idea of wishing someone well. If you can say 'Eu felicito você pelo seu dia', you are already doing great!

At the A2 level, you are moving beyond basic greetings and starting to use prepositions to connect your ideas. This is the perfect time to master the construction 'felicitar alguém POR alguma coisa'. You should learn how the preposition 'por' changes into 'pelo' (masculine) or 'pela' (feminine). For example, 'Felicito você pelo trabalho' (I congratulate you on the work) or 'Felicito você pela vitória' (I congratulate you on the victory). At this level, you can also start using the past tense (Pretérito Perfeito) to talk about things that happened recently: 'Eu felicitei a Maria ontem' (I congratulated Maria yesterday). You will find this verb very useful in social situations like weddings, birthdays, or when a colleague gets a new job. It's a 'safe' word—it's never rude and always sounds polite. You might also start to notice the difference between European Portuguese and Brazilian Portuguese. In Portugal, you'll hear this word constantly. In Brazil, you'll hear it in more formal contexts. Try to use it in a short email or a WhatsApp message to a Portuguese-speaking acquaintance. It shows that you are putting effort into using more 'correct' and elegant vocabulary. Practice the plural forms as well: 'Nós felicitamos os nossos amigos'.

As a B1 learner, you are becoming more independent in your communication. You can now use 'felicitar' in more complex sentence structures, such as using it with object pronouns. Instead of just saying 'Eu felicito o João', you can say 'Eu o felicito' (formal) or 'Eu felicito-o' (European style). You should also be comfortable using 'felicitar' in the future tense and the conditional: 'Eu o felicitaria se tivesse o seu número' (I would congratulate him if I had his number). At this stage, you should understand the nuance between 'felicitar' and 'parabenizar'. You can choose 'felicitar' when you want to sound more professional or when writing a formal note. You might also encounter the reflexive form 'felicitar-se', which means to be glad or to congratulate oneself: 'Felicito-me por ter tomado essa decisão' (I am glad/congratulate myself for having made this decision). This adds a layer of sophistication to your speech. You should also be able to understand the word in a variety of contexts, from a news report to a formal speech at a dinner. Try to incorporate it into your writing assignments when discussing success, achievements, or celebrations. It's a great way to avoid repeating simpler words like 'falar' or 'dizer'.

At the B2 level, you are expected to have a good grasp of the social registers of Portuguese. You should know exactly when 'felicitar' is more appropriate than 'parabenizar' or 'dar os parabéns'. You can use it fluently in professional environments, such as during a meeting or in a formal report. You should also be able to use it in the subjunctive mood, which is common after expressions of emotion or desire: 'Espero que todos o felicitem pelo seu sucesso' (I hope everyone congratulates him on his success). At this level, you should also be familiar with the noun form 'felicitação' (congratulation) and use it in the plural 'felicitações'. For example, 'Aceite as minhas sinceras felicitações'. This is a very common phrase in formal correspondence. You can also handle passive constructions easily: 'O autor foi amplamente felicitado pela crítica' (The author was widely congratulated by the critics). Your understanding of the word should include its emotional weight—it's not just a polite word; it's a word that conveys genuine happiness for someone else's good fortune. Practice using it in debates or discussions about public figures and their achievements.

By the C1 level, your use of 'felicitar' should be natural and nuanced. You understand that this verb can carry a certain gravitas. You can use it to express subtle irony or deep respect depending on the tone. You are also proficient in using it within complex literary or academic contexts. For instance, you might analyze how a character in a book 'felicita-se' for a dubious victory, adding a layer of psychological depth to your analysis. You should also be aware of the etymological roots and how they connect to other words like 'felicidade', 'infeliz', and 'felicitação'. In your writing, you can use 'felicitar' to vary your style and maintain a high level of formality. You might use it in the 'infinitivo pessoal' (personal infinitive): 'É importante felicitarmos os vencedores' (It is important for us to congratulate the winners). You are also able to distinguish between 'felicitar' and other verbs like 'enaltecer' (to extol) or 'glorificar' (to glorify), choosing the exact word that fits the context. Your spoken Portuguese should reflect this precision, using 'felicitar' effortlessly in high-level professional or social circles where elegance in speech is valued.

At the C2 level, you have a masterly command of the language. You use 'felicitar' with the same ease and precision as a native speaker with a high level of education. You understand the historical evolution of the word and its place in the broader Romance language family. You can use it in highly specialized contexts, such as legal or diplomatic Portuguese, where the choice of a verb can have specific implications. Your ability to use the word reflexively, passively, and in all moods and tenses is flawless. You can also play with the word's connotations in creative writing or sophisticated oratory. For example, you might write a speech where you 'felicitar' an opponent in a way that is both gracious and strategically powerful. You are also aware of regional variations across the entire Lusophone world—from Brazil and Portugal to Angola and Mozambique—and you know how the frequency and usage of 'felicitar' might vary in each. At this stage, the word is not just a vocabulary item; it is a tool for precise, elegant, and effective communication. You can explain the subtle differences between 'felicitar por' and 'congratular-se com' to other learners, demonstrating your deep linguistic insight.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

felicitar in 30 Seconds

Felicitar is a formal verb meaning 'to congratulate' used across the Portuguese-speaking world.
It is most commonly paired with the preposition 'por' (pelo/pela) to state the reason.
While 'parabenizar' is common in Brazil, 'felicitar' is the standard in Portugal and formal contexts.
It follows regular -ar verb conjugation, making it accessible for beginners to learn and use.

The Portuguese verb felicitar is a sophisticated and elegant way to offer congratulations. While the word parabenizar is more frequent in everyday Brazilian Portuguese, felicitar carries a touch of formality and warmth that makes it perfect for official ceremonies, professional milestones, and heartfelt personal achievements. To understand felicitar, one must look at its root: felicidade (happiness). When you felicitar someone, you are literally wishing them happiness or acknowledging the happiness their success has brought. This verb is transitive, meaning it directly affects an object (the person being congratulated). In European Portuguese, it is the standard choice for almost any congratulatory context, whereas in Brazil, it is often reserved for written correspondence or formal speeches.

Formal Recognition: Used when a superior acknowledges the hard work of an employee or when a government official addresses a citizen.

O diretor fez questão de felicitar a equipe pelo sucesso do projeto.

Special Occasions: It is commonly used for weddings, births, and graduations where the emotion is significant.

Viemos para felicitar os noivos por este dia tão especial.

The Preposition 'Por': Always remember that we felicitar someone 'por' (for) something. This preposition is essential for connecting the action to the reason.

Eu gostaria de te felicitar pela sua promoção na empresa.

Eles ligaram para felicitar a Maria pelo nascimento do seu filho.

Todos queriam felicitar o autor após o lançamento do livro.

Using felicitar correctly requires understanding its transitive nature. Unlike English, where 'to congratulate' is often followed by 'on', Portuguese uses the preposition por (which contracts to pelo, pela, pelos, pelas). For example, 'I congratulate you on your success' becomes 'Eu te felicito pelo seu sucesso.' Note how the preposition changes based on the gender and number of the noun that follows. When using pronouns, you can say 'felicito-o' (I congratulate him) or 'felicito-a' (I congratulate her) in formal contexts, though in spoken Brazilian Portuguese, 'felicito você' or 'te felicito' is much more common. The verb follows the regular -ar conjugation pattern, making it relatively easy for beginners to master.

Direct Object Placement: The person being congratulated is the direct object. If using a name, no preposition is needed before the name: 'Felicito o João'.

Nós felicitamos os alunos pelo excelente desempenho na prova.

Compound Tenses: When using 'ter' or 'haver' as auxiliaries, the past participle is 'felicitado'.

Eu já tinha felicitado a secretária pela organização do evento.

Passive Voice: It is common in journalism to see the passive voice: 'O vencedor foi felicitado pelo presidente'.

A cientista foi felicitada por toda a comunidade acadêmica.

Se você ganhar o prêmio, eu vou te felicitar pessoalmente.

Eles se felicitaram mutuamente após a vitória do time.

In the Portuguese-speaking world, the environment dictates whether you hear felicitar or its more casual cousins. In Portugal, felicitar is ubiquitous. You will hear it at birthday parties, in shops, and on the news. In Brazil, however, the word is a marker of social register. If you are watching a news broadcast about a Nobel Prize winner, the anchor will likely say 'O presidente felicitou o pesquisador.' If you are at a corporate gala or a graduation ceremony (colaçāo de grau), the speakers will use felicitar to maintain a professional tone. You will also encounter it frequently in literature and classical songs.

News and Media: Used in headlines to report diplomatic interactions or major achievements.

Líderes mundiais se apressam em felicitar o novo presidente eleito.

Professional Emails: A standard way to begin a letter of recognition or a LinkedIn comment on a job change.

Escrevo para felicitar Vossa Senhoria pelo novo cargo.

Formal Social Events: At a high-end gallery opening, guests might felicitar the artist on the exhibition.

Os convidados fizeram fila para felicitar a aniversariante.

O juiz parou a sessão para felicitar o advogado pela brilhante tese.

É um prazer felicitar o senhor por tantos anos de serviço.

One of the most frequent errors English speakers make is using the wrong preposition. In English, we congratulate someone on something. In Portuguese, we felicitar someone por something. Saying 'felicito você em seu sucesso' is a literal translation that sounds unnatural. Another mistake is confusing felicitar with cumprimentar. While both involve social interaction, cumprimentar means to greet (saying hello) or to give a compliment, whereas felicitar is specifically for celebrations or achievements. Finally, learners often forget that in Brazil, using felicitar for a casual birthday might sound overly stiff; stick to 'Parabéns!' for your friends.

Preposition Confusion: Incorrect: Felicito você no seu casamento. Correct: Felicito você pelo seu casamento.

Não se esqueça de felicitar a Maria pelo prêmio (e não 'no prêmio').

Semantic Overlap: Confusing 'felicitar' with 'agradecer' (to thank). You felicitar for their success, you agradecer for their help.

Eu vim para te felicitar, não para te agradecer.

Register Errors: Using 'felicitar' in a text message to a sibling can feel sarcastic or overly formal unless it's a huge life event.

O avô preferiu felicitar o neto por meio de uma carta formal.

É errado felicitar alguém sem sinceridade.

Muitos alunos confundem felicitar com facilitar (to make easy).

To build a rich vocabulary, it is essential to know the synonyms and nuances of felicitar. The most common alternative is parabenizar, which is derived from 'parabéns'. While felicitar focuses on the happiness of the occasion, parabenizar focuses on the praise of the person's merit. Another related verb is saudar, which means to hail or salute, often used in very formal or military contexts. Elogiar means to praise or compliment, focusing on a specific quality rather than a general achievement. Understanding these differences will help you choose the right word for every social situation.

Felicitar vs. Parabenizar: Felicitar is more common in Portugal; Parabenizar is the king of Brazil. Felicitar feels more 'classic'.

Vou felicitar o autor (formal) / Vou parabenizar o autor (standard).

Felicitar vs. Cumprimentar: Cumprimentar is just saying 'hi' or shaking hands. Felicitar is specifically for a good reason.

Ele entrou, cumprimentou a todos e depois foi felicitar o aniversariante.

Felicitar vs. Louvar: Louvar is 'to praise' in a religious or highly elevated sense, much stronger than felicitar.

Devemos felicitar o esforço, mas louvar a dedicação total.

Não basta felicitar, é preciso celebrar junto.

Eles usaram o rádio para felicitar os ouvintes pelo Natal.

How Formal Is It?

Formal

Neutral

Informal

Child friendly

Slang

Fun Fact

The word is directly related to 'Felix', a common name in Latin that means 'lucky' or 'happy'.

Pronunciation Guide

UK /fɨ.li.si.ˈtaɾ/

US /fe.li.si.ˈtaʁ/

The stress is on the last syllable: 'tar'.

Rhymes With

cantar falar amar andar pensar chegar olhar estar

Common Errors

Pronouncing the 'ci' as 'chi' (like in Italian).
Stressing the second-to-last syllable (fe-li-CI-tar).
Confusing the initial 'fe' with 'fa' (falicitar).
Not pronouncing the final 'r' in formal speech.
Vocalizing the 'l' as a 'u' sound too much in European contexts.

Difficulty Rating

Reading 2/5

Easy to recognize due to English cognates like 'felicity'.

Writing 3/5

Requires remembering the correct preposition 'por' and its contractions.

Speaking 3/5

The four-syllable structure requires clear articulation of the 'ci' sound.

Listening 2/5

Usually pronounced clearly in formal contexts.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

feliz por parabéns aniversário sucesso

Learn Next

felicitação congratular elogiar agradecer comemorar

Advanced

enaltecer louvar regozijar-se ufanar-se galardoar

Grammar to Know

Regência Verbal do verbo Felicitar

Felicitar alguém (objeto direto) POR algo (preposição).

Contração da preposição POR

Por + o = pelo; Por + a = pela.

Colocação Pronominal com verbos no infinitivo

Quero felicitá-lo (formal) ou Quero te felicitar (informal).

Conjugação de verbos regulares em -AR

Eu felicito, Tu felicitas, Ele felicita...

Uso do Subjuntivo após verbos de desejo

Desejo que você felicite o seu irmão.

Examples by Level

Eu felicito você.

I congratulate you.

Simple present tense, subject + verb + object.

Nós felicitamos o João.

We congratulate João.

First person plural conjugation.

Eles felicitam a Maria.

They congratulate Maria.

Third person plural conjugation.

Você felicita o seu amigo?

Do you congratulate your friend?

Interrogative sentence.

Eu quero felicitar você.

I want to congratulate you.

Infinitive after a modal verb (querer).

Ela felicita a mãe hoje.

She congratulates her mother today.

Third person singular conjugation.

Nós vamos felicitar o professor.

We are going to congratulate the teacher.

Immediate future with 'ir' + infinitive.

Felicito você pelo bolo!

I congratulate you on the cake!

Using 'pelo' (por + o).

Eu felicitei o meu irmão pelo novo emprego.

I congratulated my brother on his new job.

Pretérito Perfeito (past tense) + 'pelo'.

Eles nos felicitaram pela vitória no jogo.

They congratulated us on the victory in the game.

Object pronoun 'nos' before the verb.

Você já felicitou a Ana pelo aniversário dela?

Have you already congratulated Ana on her birthday?

Use of 'já' with the past tense.

Nós felicitamos a equipe pelo excelente trabalho.

We congratulate the team for the excellent work.

Regular present tense usage in a professional context.

Ela vai felicitar o pai pelo presente.

She is going to congratulate her father for the gift.

Future construction with 'pelo'.

Eles sempre felicitam os amigos no Natal.

They always congratulate their friends at Christmas.

Adverb of frequency 'sempre'.

O diretor felicitou a secretária pela organização.

The director congratulated the secretary on the organization.

Formal subject and context.

Eu te felicito por ser tão corajoso.

I congratulate you for being so brave.

Use of 'por' followed by an infinitive.

Eu gostaria de felicitar todos os participantes.

I would like to congratulate all the participants.

Conditional tense (gostaria) for politeness.

Se eu ganhasse, você me felicitaria?

If I won, would you congratulate me?

Conditional sentence with imperfect subjunctive.

Eles se felicitaram mutuamente pelo sucesso da parceria.

They congratulated each other on the success of the partnership.

Reflexive/Reciprocal usage with 'se'.

É importante felicitar quem faz um bom trabalho.

It is important to congratulate those who do a good job.

Impersonal expression followed by infinitive.

Espero que você felicite o seu primo amanhã.

I hope you congratulate your cousin tomorrow.

Present subjunctive after 'espero que'.

Ninguém o felicitou pelo seu esforço constante.

No one congratulated him for his constant effort.

Negative sentence with object pronoun 'o'.

Felicito-o pela sua brilhante apresentação.

I congratulate you (him) on your brilliant presentation.

Enclisis (pronoun after verb), common in formal/PT-PT.

Nós tínhamos felicitado a noiva antes da cerimônia.

We had congratulated the bride before the ceremony.

Past perfect tense (tínhamos felicitado).

O presidente fez questão de felicitar o cientista pessoalmente.

The president made a point of congratulating the scientist personally.

Idiomatic expression 'fazer questão de'.

Apesar da rivalidade, ele felicitou o vencedor com sinceridade.

Despite the rivalry, he congratulated the winner sincerely.

Concessive conjunction 'apesar de'.

Felicito-me por ter tido a oportunidade de conhecê-los.

I am glad (congratulate myself) to have had the opportunity to meet them.

Reflexive use meaning 'to be glad'.

Se tivessem avisado, eu teria felicitado o autor.

If they had told me, I would have congratulated the author.

Third conditional sentence.

As felicitações foram enviadas por correio eletrônico.

The congratulations were sent by email.

Noun form 'felicitações' in a passive sentence.

Não basta apenas felicitar; é preciso apoiar o projeto.

It is not enough just to congratulate; it is necessary to support the project.

Adverbial restriction 'apenas'.

Ela foi felicitada pela crítica como a melhor atriz do ano.

She was congratulated by the critics as the best actress of the year.

Passive voice with 'pela crítica'.

Gostaria de o felicitar por tamanha dedicação à causa.

I would like to congratulate you for such dedication to the cause.

Formal pronoun placement and use of 'tamanha'.

Cumpre-me o grato dever de felicitar esta instituição pelo seu centenário.

It is my pleasant duty to congratulate this institution on its centenary.

Highly formal 'Cumpre-me o dever de'.

Felicitar o oponente exige uma grandeza de espírito que poucos possuem.

Congratulating an opponent requires a greatness of spirit that few possess.

Infinitive as a subject.

O autor felicita-se pela recepção calorosa que a sua obra obteve.

The author is pleased with the warm reception his work received.

Reflexive verb indicating satisfaction.

Resta-nos felicitar os organizadores pela impecável execução do evento.

It remains for us to congratulate the organizers for the impeccable execution of the event.

Formal structure 'Resta-nos'.

Mesmo que não concorde, deve felicitá-lo pela coragem de assumir o erro.

Even if you don't agree, you should congratulate him for the courage to admit the mistake.

Concessive clause with 'mesmo que' + subjunctive.

O embaixador felicitou o governo pela rápida resposta à crise.

The ambassador congratulated the government on the quick response to the crisis.

Diplomatic and political register.

Foram muitos os que acorreram para felicitar o jovem prodígio.

Many were those who rushed to congratulate the young prodigy.

Literary structure 'Foram muitos os que'.

Felicito-vos por manterem viva esta tradição tão nobre.

I congratulate you (plural) for keeping this noble tradition alive.

Use of 'vós' (formal/archaic/regional) and personal infinitive.

Ao felicitarmos o novo reitor, reiteramos o nosso compromisso com a excelência acadêmica.

By congratulating the new dean, we reiterate our commitment to academic excellence.

Gerund-like use of 'Ao' + personal infinitive.

É imperativo que saibamos felicitar o mérito alheio sem resquícios de inveja.

It is imperative that we know how to congratulate others' merit without a trace of envy.

Subjunctive mood and sophisticated vocabulary (alheio, resquícios).

A diplomacia exige que se felicite até mesmo aqueles com quem divergimos profundamente.

Diplomacy requires congratulating even those with whom we deeply diverge.

Impersonal 'se' in the subjunctive.

Felicitar-se-á o povo quando as reformas finalmente produzirem efeitos tangíveis.

The people will be congratulated (or will congratulate themselves) when reforms finally produce tangible effects.

Mesoclisis (future tense with pronoun in the middle).

Não se trata apenas de um protocolo, mas de um ato de justiça felicitar tal empenho.

It is not just a matter of protocol, but an act of justice to congratulate such commitment.

Sophisticated 'Não se trata apenas de'.

O júri não hesitou em felicitar o candidato pela originalidade da sua tese.

The jury did not hesitate to congratulate the candidate on the originality of his thesis.

Negative construction 'não hesitou em'.

Felicito-vos pela resiliência demonstrada face às adversidades do último ano.

I congratulate you for the resilience shown in the face of last year's adversities.

Formal address and complex prepositional phrase.

Pudesse eu felicitar cada um de vós individualmente, fá-lo-ia com o maior prazer.

Could I congratulate each of you individually, I would do so with the greatest pleasure.

Inverted subjunctive 'Pudesse eu' expressing a wish, plus mesoclisis.

Common Collocations

felicitar calorosamente

felicitar pessoalmente

felicitar pelo aniversário

felicitar pelo sucesso

felicitar a equipe

felicitar os noivos

felicitar por escrito

felicitar sinceramente

felicitar pela promoção

ter o prazer de felicitar

Common Phrases

Felicito-o pelo seu sucesso.

— I congratulate you on your success (Formal).

Felicito-o pelo seu sucesso na nova empresa.

Quero te felicitar.

— I want to congratulate you.

Quero te felicitar por tudo o que você fez.

Venho felicitar-te.

— I am here to congratulate you (European Portuguese).

Venho felicitar-te pelo teu excelente exame.

Meus parabéns, te felicito!

— My congratulations, I congratulate you!

Meus parabéns, te felicito de todo o coração.

Felicito a todos.

— I congratulate everyone.

Felicito a todos os presentes pelo empenho.

Felicito-me com esta notícia.

— I am happy with this news.

Felicito-me com esta notícia tão esperada.

Não deixe de o felicitar.

— Don't forget to congratulate him.

Ele ganhou o prêmio, não deixe de o felicitar.

Felicito-a pela coragem.

— I congratulate her on her courage.

Felicito-a pela coragem de falar a verdade.

Temos de felicitar o vencedor.

— We have to congratulate the winner.

O jogo acabou, temos de felicitar o vencedor.

Felicito você de coração.

— I congratulate you from the bottom of my heart.

Felicito você de coração por este dia.

Often Confused With

felicitar vs cumprimentar

Cumprimentar is to greet (hello), while felicitar is to congratulate.

felicitar vs facilitar

Facilitar means to make something easy. They sound similar but are unrelated.

felicitar vs agradecer

Agradecer is to thank someone, while felicitar is to praise their success.

Idioms & Expressions

"Felicitar-se com os próprios louros"

— To take pride in one's own achievements, often used when someone is satisfied with what they've done.

Ele felicita-se com os próprios louros após a venda.

Literary

"Felicitar a sorte"

— To feel lucky or to acknowledge one's good fortune.

Devemos felicitar a sorte por termos escapado do acidente.

Formal

"Felicitar o sol"

— An old, rare poetic way to welcome a new day or a new beginning.

Ao amanhecer, os pássaros parecem felicitar o sol.

Poetic

"Felicitações de praxe"

— Standard or expected congratulations that might lack deep sincerity.

Ele recebeu as felicitações de praxe dos colegas.

Neutral

"Felicitar-se por antecipação"

— To celebrate or be happy about something before it actually happens (counting your chickens).

Não se felicite por antecipação, o contrato ainda não foi assinado.

Neutral

"Felicitar os olhos"

— To see something beautiful or pleasing (similar to 'a sight for sore eyes').

A vista da montanha felicita os olhos de qualquer viajante.

Literary

"Felicitar o bolso"

— A humorous way to say something was profitable or saved money.

Aquele desconto realmente felicitou o meu bolso.

Informal

"Felicitar a alma"

— To do something that brings deep inner peace or joy.

Ouvir música clássica felicita a minha alma.

Poetic

"Felicitar o estômago"

— To eat something delicious.

Este jantar vai felicitar o meu estômago.

Informal

"Felicitar o esforço alheio"

— To make a point of recognizing the hard work of others, even if they didn't win.

É nobre felicitar o esforço alheio mesmo na derrota.

Formal

Easily Confused

felicitar vs parabenizar

Both mean to congratulate.

Parabenizar is more informal/standard in Brazil; Felicitar is more formal/standard in Portugal.

Vou parabenizar meu amigo (BR); Vou felicitar o meu amigo (PT).

felicitar vs saudar

Both involve positive recognition.

Saudar is to hail or greet formally, often in public or military contexts.

Saudamos a bandeira; Felicitamos o herói.

felicitar vs elogiar

Both are positive feedback.

Elogiar is to give a compliment on a specific trait; Felicitar is for an event or achievement.

Elogiei o seu vestido; Felicitei-a pelo casamento.

felicitar vs congratular

Direct cognate of 'congratulate'.

Congratular is extremely rare in spoken Portuguese and very formal.

Congratulo-me com a vossa decisão.

felicitar vs festejar

Related to celebrations.

Festejar is the act of partying or celebrating; Felicitar is the act of speaking/writing the congratulations.

Vamos festejar o seu aniversário e felicitar o seu sucesso.

Sentence Patterns

Eu felicito [Nome].

Eu felicito o Pedro.

Eu felicito [Pessoa] pelo/pela [Coisa].

Eu felicito a Maria pela casa nova.

Gostaria de felicitar [Pessoa].

Gostaria de felicitar os alunos.

[Pessoa] foi felicitado(a) por [Agente].

O médico foi felicitado pelos pacientes.

Cumpre-me felicitar [Pessoa].

Cumpre-me felicitar o novo sócio.

Pudesse eu felicitar [Pessoa]...

Pudesse eu felicitar cada cidadão...

Mixed

Não se esqueça de felicitar [Pessoa].

Não se esqueça de felicitar o seu chefe.

Mixed

Felicito-me por [Ação].

Felicito-me por ter chegado cedo.

Word Family

Nouns

Verbs

Adjectives

How to Use It

frequency

High in Portugal and formal Brazilian contexts; Medium in casual Brazilian speech.

Common Mistakes

Felicito você em sua promoção. → Felicito você pela sua promoção.
English speakers often translate 'on' as 'em', but 'felicitar' requires 'por'.
Eu felicito para você. → Eu felicito você.
Felicitar is a direct transitive verb; it does not need 'para' before the person.
Felicitar as pessoas no aniversário. → Felicitar as pessoas pelo aniversário.
Again, the preposition 'por' (pelo) is the correct one for the reason of the congratulation.
Eu felicito-te (in Brazil). → Eu te felicito (in Brazil).
While 'felicito-te' is correct in Portugal, it sounds extremely archaic or stiff in Brazilian speech.
Felicitar a ajuda. → Agradecer a ajuda.
You don't congratulate help; you thank it. Use 'felicitar' for achievements.

Tips

Use for Professionalism

When writing a LinkedIn recommendation or a formal email to a boss, use 'felicitar' to show a high level of Portuguese proficiency.

The 'Por' Rule

Always associate 'felicitar' with 'por'. If you remember 'Felicitar POR', you will avoid 90% of common learner mistakes.

Portugal vs Brazil

If you are in Lisbon, use 'felicitar' freely. If you are in Rio, use it for special, formal occasions.

Noun Form

Learn 'felicitações' alongside the verb. It's a great way to end a formal letter: 'Com as minhas melhores felicitações'.

The 'Felicity' Connection

Relate the word to the English 'felicity'. It helps you remember that the word is about happiness and success.

The 'CI' Sound

Make sure the 'ci' sounds like 'see' and not 'shee'. This is a common mistake for learners of other Romance languages.

Wedding Etiquette

At a wedding, 'Felicito os noivos' is the perfect phrase to say to the parents of the couple.

Avoid Repetition

In a long text, alternate between 'felicitar', 'parabenizar', and 'prestar homenagem' to keep your writing interesting.

News Context

When you hear 'felicitou' on the news, it's almost always followed by a politician's name and a diplomatic event.

Reflexive Use

Don't be afraid to use 'felicitar-se por'. It's a very sophisticated way to say you are proud of something you did.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of 'Felicity' (happiness). When you 'felicitar' someone, you are giving them 'felicity' for their success.

Visual Association

Imagine a giant golden 'F' turning into a smile. That 'F' is for Felicitar.

Word Web

feliz felicidade festa parabéns sucesso prêmio vitória alegria

Challenge

Try to felicitar three people today—one for a small task, one for a big achievement, and one just for being a good friend.

Word Origin

From the Latin verb 'felicitare', which means to make happy or to bless.

Original meaning: To bring good fortune or happiness to someone.

Romance (Latin root).

Cultural Context

It is a very safe, polite word. No negative connotations.

It is more formal than 'congratulate' can be. It's closer to 'extend my congratulations'.

Used in diplomatic cables between heads of state. Common in the lyrics of Fado music when celebrating life. Found in the works of Machado de Assis.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Birthdays

Felicito você pelo seu aniversário.
Muitas felicidades!
Quero te felicitar por mais um ano.
Parabéns, felicito você!

Work/Promotion

Felicito-o pela promoção.
Parabéns pelo novo cargo.
A empresa felicita o seu empenho.
Felicito você pelo sucesso do projeto.

Weddings

Felicito os noivos por esta união.
Viemos felicitar o casal.
Muitas felicidades nesta nova vida.
Felicito vocês pelo lindo casamento.

Academic Achievement

Felicito o aluno pela nota dez.
Parabéns pela graduação.
O diretor felicita os formandos.
Felicito você pela defesa da tese.

Sports/Competition

Felicito o vencedor da corrida.
Todos felicitam o time campeão.
Felicito você pelo seu recorde.
Viemos felicitar a sua equipe.

Conversation Starters

"Como você costuma felicitar os seus amigos no aniversário deles?"

"Você prefere felicitar as pessoas pessoalmente ou por mensagem?"

"Qual foi a última vez que alguém te felicitou por algo importante?"

"É comum felicitar os colegas de trabalho no seu país?"

"Você acha importante felicitar os oponentes depois de uma competição?"

Journal Prompts

Escreva sobre uma vez em que você foi felicitado e como se sentiu.

Quem você gostaria de felicitar hoje e por qual motivo?

Descreva uma cerimônia formal onde muitas pessoas foram felicitadas.

Por que é importante felicitar as pessoas pelos seus pequenos sucessos?

Escreva uma carta formal para felicitar uma autoridade pelo seu trabalho.

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

Yes, absolutely. In Portugal, it is very common. In Brazil, it sounds more formal, like saying 'I extend my congratulations on your birthday' instead of 'Happy Birthday'.

They are synonyms. 'Parabenizar' is more common in Brazil and comes from 'parabéns'. 'Felicitar' is more formal and common in Portugal, coming from 'felicidade'.

Use 'por'. It usually contracts with the article: 'pelo' (masculine) or 'pela' (feminine). Example: 'Felicito-o pelo sucesso'.

Yes, but mostly in formal writing, speeches, or professional settings. In casual conversation, Brazilians prefer 'dar os parabéns'.

Use the reflexive form: 'Eu me felicito' (Brazil) or 'Felicito-me' (Portugal). It often means 'I am glad'.

Yes, it is a regular -ar verb. It follows the same pattern as 'falar' or 'cantar'.

It is better to say 'pelo seu sucesso'. Using 'no' is a common mistake for English speakers translating 'on' literally.

The noun is 'felicitação', usually used in the plural: 'felicitações'.

Yes, it is significantly more formal and elegant.

fe-li-ci-TAR. The stress is on the last syllable.