Congratulations in Portuguese: Parabéns or Felicidades?
Parabéns congratulates someone on an occasion or achievement; felicidades expresses a wish for happiness and can add warmth to the message.
Real Life Portuguese · 5 min read · Updated October 15, 2026
The short answer
Parabéns is the most direct everyday way to say congratulations in Brazilian Portuguese. You can use it for a birthday, graduation, new job, or another achievement. Add pelo or pela plus the reason when you want to be specific.
Use parabéns to congratulate someone
The noun after pelo/pela determines the form: pelo seu trabalho (for your work), pela conquista (for the achievement).
Parabéns pelo seu novo emprego!
Congratulations on your new job!
Parabéns pela formatura!
Congratulations on graduating!
Parabéns pelo aniversário!
Happy birthday!
Use felicidades to wish someone well
Felicidades means happiness or best wishes. It often appears in a warm message for a couple, a birthday, or a new stage of life. It can stand alone, but it also works naturally after parabéns.
You do not need to choose only one. Parabéns marks the occasion; felicidades adds a wish for what comes next.
Parabéns e muitas felicidades nesta nova fase!
Congratulations, and lots of happiness in this new chapter!
Desejo muitas felicidades para vocês.
I wish you both lots of happiness.
Felicidades no seu dia!
Best wishes on your special day!
Make your message personal without overdoing it
Name the reason you are celebrating, then add one sincere detail. A short, specific message usually feels warmer than a long list of generic wishes.
Use the person's name if you know it. For a formal relationship, a complete sentence can feel more appropriate than an emoji or an abbreviated message.
Parabéns, Ana! Você trabalhou muito por essa conquista.
Congratulations, Ana! You worked hard for this achievement.
Muitas felicidades para vocês dois. Que bom comemorar juntos!
Lots of happiness to you both. I’m glad we can celebrate together!
Put it into practice
Choose parabéns to mark the occasion and add felicidades when you want to express warm wishes for the future.
Quick practice
Which Portuguese example matches “Best wishes on your special day”?
Choose an answer to check yourself.
Keep practicing with the Real Life Portuguese app
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