Expressions de célébration
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It’s party time! Whether you’re making a toast, celebrating a birthday, or congratulating a friend’s success, celebratory language helps get the party going. Have a blast with these celebratory French verbs and expressions.
Celebratory exclamations
| À la tienne ! À la vôtre ! |
Cheers! | |
| À ta santé ! À votre santé ! |
Cheers! | |
| Bon anniversaire ! | Happy birthday! | |
| Bon appétit ! | Enjoy your meal! | |
| Bon courage ! | Keep up the good work! | |
| Bon travail ! | Good job! | |
| Bon voyage ! | Bon voyage! Have a good trip! | |
| Bonne chance ! | Good luck! | |
| Bonnes vacances ! | Have a nice vacation! | |
| Bravo ! | Good job! | |
| C’est un festin de Balthazar ! | It’s a feast fit for kings! | |
| Chapeau ! | Well done! | |
| Félicitations ! | Congratulations! | |
| Je me réjouis pour toi / vous ! | I’m so happy for you! | |
| Joyeux anniversaire ! | Happy birthday! | |
| Mes / Nos meilleurs vœux ! | Best wishes! | |
| Nous nous réjouissons pour toi / vous ! | We’re so happy for you! | |
| Le nouveau est arrivée ! | Beaujolais nouveau is here! | |
| Santé ! | Cheers! | |
| Tchin-tchin ! | Cheers! | |
| Toutes mes / nos félicitations ! | Congratulations! | |
| Vive la France ! | Long live France! |
See Holiday Expressions for good wishes and vocab related to specific holidays.
When celebrating with friends and family, you’ll probably do les bises while expressing your good wishes.
Celebratory verbs
| s’amuser | to have fun | ||
| arroser | (informal) | to drink to | |
| boire à la santé de | to drink to the health of | ||
| boire au succès de | to drink to the success of | ||
| célébrer | to celebrate | ||
| complimenter | to congratulate | ||
| donner | to give | ||
| faire la fête | (informal) | to live it up | |
| faire un cadeau (à qqun) | to give (someone) a present | ||
| féliciter | to congratulate | ||
| festoyer | to feast | ||
| fêter | to celebrate | ||
| offrir en cadeau | to give as a present | ||
| porter un toast à | to propose a toast to | ||
| présenter ses félicitations à | to congratulate | ||
| recevoir en cadeau | to receive as a present | ||
| remercier | to thank | ||
| rire | to laugh | ||
| souffler ses bougies | (informal) | to celebrate one’s birthday | |
| souhaiter | to wish | ||
| trinquer | to clink glasses | ||
Related vocab
| un cadeau | gift, present |
| un cadeau de mariage | wedding gift |
| C’est cadeau | It’s on the house |
| C’est pour offrir ? | Is this a present? (Do you want it gift wrapped?) |
| le chassé-croisé des juillettistes et des aoûtiens | huge traffic jams at end of July, beginning of August |
| faire cadeau | to give a present; to let off easily |
| faire le pont | to make it a long (four-day) weekend |
| le jour J | the big day |
| le papier-cadeau | gift wrap |
| la rentrée | back to school |
Related features
- Birthdays, Anniversaries, Milestones
- Dates in French
- Expressing gratitude
- Gifts for French lovers
- Holiday expressions
- Holidays and celebrations
- Jours fériés
- Social niceties
- Tu vs vous
- Video: Trinquer
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