der Glückwunsch, ¨-e
congratulation
Eine freundliche Aussage, mit der man jemandem sagt, dass man sich über seinen Erfolg oder sein besonderes Ereignis freut.
Definition & meaning
der Glückwunsch means congratulations or a congratulatory message. It is used to express joy and good wishes on a special occasion or after an achievement.
- Herzlichen Glückwunsch! — Congratulations!
- Glückwunsch zum Geburtstag! — Happy birthday!
- Glückwunsch zur bestandenen Prüfung! — Congratulations on passing the exam!
The plural is die Glückwünsche , commonly used when referring to congratulations as a message or collection of good wishes.
Grammar & Word origin
Literally, Glückwunsch means a “wish of happiness or good fortune.”
Synonyms & antonyms
Synonyms
- die Gratulation — a formal synonym for Glückwunsch; often used in official or written contexts.
- die Glückwünsche — congratulations or good wishes, usually in the plural and often referring to a message.
- bravo — “well done”; expresses praise rather than a formal congratulation.
There is no exact antonym. Depending on the situation, das Beileid (“condolences”) can be considered a situational opposite because it expresses sympathy after a loss rather than joy after an achievement.
Common phrases & collocations
Make “Glückwunsch” part of your vocabulary.
Build your German vocabulary with flashcards, audio and spaced repetition.
Examples
Herzlichen Glückwunsch zur bestandenen Prüfung!noun
Heartfelt congratulations on passing the exam!
Viele Glückwünsche kamen per Post.noun
Many congratulations arrived by mail.
Keep exploring German
Learn words from the content you love.
Add words from websites, books and videos, then remember them with spaced repetition (SRS).
Scan for iPhone & iPad