Say it in Spanish

How to say congratulations in Spanish to your son.

Not a dictionary line: the phrases Spanish speakers use for your son, what each means, and 5 complete messages by a native speaker — each one a tap away from a card in Spanish.

Quick answer

“¡Enhorabuena!” (“Congratulations!”) is the line, and for your son “¡Felicidades!” (“Congratulations!”) adds warmth. Below: 5 full congratulations messages for your son, written by a Spanish speaker.

Enhorabuena, hijo. El logro es tuyo de principio a fin; el orgullo, ese sí que es nuestro.

Congratulations messages in Spanish for your son

Felicitar a un hijo por un logro es de las cosas que más gusto dan de ser padre o madre. Dile que el mérito es suyo y el orgullo, tuyo.

Enhorabuena, hijo. El logro es tuyo de principio a fin; el orgullo, ese sí que es nuestro.
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Te hemos visto trabajar por esto, y verlo cumplido no tiene precio. Estamos orgullosísimos.
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Lo has conseguido tú solo, campeón, y eso lo hace aún más grande. Enhorabuena, te quiero.
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Cada esfuerzo tuyo lo hemos vivido en casa. Hoy toca celebrarlo a lo grande, hijo. ¡Enhorabuena!
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Sea este el primero de muchos o el más grande de todos, nosotros igual de orgullosos. Te quiero, hijo.
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The Spanish phrases, and when each one fits

Spanish is informal ('tú') almost everywhere a card is involved — family, friends, colleagues. 'Usted' is for a client or an elder you address formally; in Latin America it is more common than in Spain.

  • ¡Enhorabuena! — “Congratulations!”. Spain's word for an achievement — job, exam, house.
  • ¡Felicidades! — “Congratulations!”. Universal, and the word in Latin America.
  • ¡Muy bien hecho! — “Very well done!”. For an achievement.
  • Te lo mereces. — “You deserve it.”. A promotion, a result.
  • ¡Enhorabuena por el bebé! — “Congratulations on the baby!”. A new baby.
  • Estoy muy orgulloso / orgullosa de ti. — “I'm very proud of you.”. Family — 'orgulloso' if you are a man, 'orgullosa' if you are a woman.

Questions people ask

Can I write to your son in English with a Spanish opening?

Yes — open with “¡Enhorabuena!”, write what you want to say in English, and sign off in Spanish: Un abrazo, or Un abrazo fuerte,. For your son the effort lands harder than the grammar.

Formal or informal for your son?

Spanish is informal ('tú') almost everywhere a card is involved — family, friends, colleagues. 'Usted' is for a client or an elder you address formally; in Latin America it is more common than in Spain.

How do I sign off?

Un abrazo, · Un abrazo fuerte, · Con cariño, · Besos, · Un saludo, — warmest first.

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