Crucial Terms to Know
Obviously there are a myriad of reasons to congratulate someone, such as birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, passed exams and more. First let’s take a look at some general terms and phrases that you can use in many different situations:
General Congratulations & Best Wishes
Vocabulary Pronunciation Translation Gratulation! grah-too-lah-tee-OHN Congratulations! Ich gratuliere! ‘Ikh grah-tu-LEE-ruh Congratulations! Alles Gute! AH-lehs GOO-tuh All the best! Alles Liebe! al-LEHS LEE-buh tsum Geh-BURTS-tahg Lots of love! Herzlichen Glückwunsch HAYR-tslikh-ehn GLUECK-wunsh Heartfelt congratulations! Viel Glück! Feel Glueck Lots of luck! Viel Erfolg! Feel Ehr-VOHLG Lots of success! Ich freue mich sehr für Dich! Ikh FROY-uh mikh sayr fuer Disch I am very happy for you. Die besten Wünsche! Dee BAYS-tehn VUEN-shuh Best wishes!
Congratulations & Best Wishes for Special Occasions
Vocabulary Pronunciation Translation Alles Gute zum Geburtstag! AHL-lehs GOO-tuh tsum Geh-BURTS-tahg All the best for your birthday! Herzlichen Glückwunsch zur Verlobung! HAYR-tslisch-ehn GLUECK-wunsh tsur Fehr-LOH-bung Heartfelt congratulations for your engagement! Die besten Wünsche zum freudigen Ereignis! Dee BEHST-ehn VUEN-shuh tsum FROY-dih-gehn Ehr-IYG-nihs Best wishes for the happy event! Viel Glück im neuen Heim! Feel Glueck ihm NOY-ehn Hiym Best of luck in the new home! Gute Besserung! GOO-tuh BEHS-seh-rung Feel better soon. Alles Gute zum Muttertag AHL-lehs GOO-tuh tsum MUT-tehr-tahg All the best for Mother’s Day! Mein tiefstes Beileid Miyn TEEF-stehs BIY-liyd My deepest sympathy
Let’s see how this new vocabulary can be applied in real life. Sabrina is already at her first party. It’s time for us to join her and see how she’s doing.
Congratulations for Different Occasions
It’s lunchtime, and Sabrina is making her first appearance at the Verlobungsfeier (‘engagement party’) of her friend Maike.
Sabrina: Liebe Maike, herzlichen Glückwunsch zur Verlobung! (‘Dear Maike, heartfelt congratulations for the engagement!’) Ich wünsche Euch beiden von Herzen alles Liebe und alles Gute! (‘I wish you both much love and all the best from the heart!’)
Maike: Vielen Dank, Sabrina! (‘Many thanks, Sabrina!’) Anton is leider etwas krank heute, aber sonst ist alles super. (‘Unfortunately, Anton is a little sick today, but besides that everything is great.’)
Sabrina: Oh nein, sag ihm gute Besserung von mir! (‘Oh no, tell him to feel better soon from me!’)
After spending some time at the engagement party, Sabrina continues on to the next celebration, the graduation party of her cousin Peter.
Offiziere feiern hire Graduierung (Officers celebrating their graduation) 
