noun
congratulations, congratulatory message
B1
Gratulation (die) means 'congratulations' or a 'congratulatory message'. Feminine noun, plural Gratulationen (regular -en). Used to express congratulations in formal or written contexts; sometimes more formal than Glückwunsch. No special preposition or reflexive use. Common in cards, speeches, and formal notices.
VOCABULARY.DETAILS.EXAMPLES
Meine Gratulation an das Siegerteam!
My congratulations to the winning team!
Ich gratuliere dir.
I congratulate you.
Ich schrieb eine Gratulation zur Hochzeit und legte eine Karte bei.
I wrote a congratulatory message for the wedding and included a card.
VOCABULARY.DETAILS.DETAILS_LABEL
VOCABULARY.DETAILS.MNEMONICS
imagine a card stamped with 'Gratulation' and confetti
sounds like English 'congratulation' (same root)
ends with -ion like many feminine German nouns (die Nation, die Situation) → die Gratulation
VOCABULARY.DETAILS.NOTES
Formal word used for expressing congratulations; often used in cards and speeches. Plural 'Gratulationen' is possible but singular is common in set phrases.