Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

congratulate

/kənˈɡɹæd͡ʒ.ʊˌleɪt/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.59 in modern English

Syllables: con-grat-u-late
IPA: /kənˈɡɹæd͡ʒ.ʊˌleɪt/

15

Scrabble Score

12

Letters

4

Syllables

10

Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To express one’s sympathetic pleasure or joy to the person(s) it is felt for

verb

To consider oneself fortunate in some matter.

Example Sentences

"Remind me to congratulate Dave and Lisa on their wedding."
"We must congratulate Dave and Lisa on getting married."
"Ronaldo Sr., who is the record goalscorer in men’s international soccer with 136 goals for Portugal, congratulated his son on his Instagram Stories by posting a picture of his name on the squad list, saying: “Proud of you, son!”"
"I congratulated myself on the success of my plan."

Etymology

First attested in 1548; borrowed from Latin congrātulātus, the perfect active participle of Latin congrātulor (“to wish joy, rejoice (with); to congratulate”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), from con- + grātulor, from grātus (“grateful, pleasing, agreeable, beloved”) + -or. By surface analysis, con- + gratulate.

Origin

Source language: Latin
First known use: First attested in 1548

Word Breakdown

Root: *gʷerH-, congrātulor

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /kənˈɡɹæd͡ʒ.ʊˌleɪt/

Inflected Forms

congratulates (present, singular) congratulating (participle, present) congratulated (participle, past) congratulated (past) gratulate (alternative, archaic)

Derived Forms

congratulable congratulant congratulating congratulative congratulator congratulatory recongratulate uncongratulated uncongratulating

Phrases

self-congratulate

Frequently Paired Words

congratulation congratulations

Synonyms

felicitate compliment preen pride plume

Questions

How do you pronounce congratulate?: The recorded pronunciation is /kənˈɡɹæd͡ʒ.ʊˌleɪt/.
What does congratulate mean?: To express one’s sympathetic pleasure or joy to the person(s) it is felt for
Where does congratulate come from?: It is traced to Latin. First known use: First attested in 1548.

How to pronounce congratulate

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