Celebratory Expressions

Expressions de célébration

Celebrating in French
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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

Ă€ la tienne !
Ă€ la vĂ´tre !
  Cheers!
Ă€ ta santĂ© !
Ă€ votre santĂ© !
  Cheers!
Bon anniversaire !   Happy birthday!
Bon appĂ©tit !   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!
FĂ©licitations !   Congratulations!
Je me rĂ©jouis pour toi / vous !   I’m so happy for you!
Joyeux anniversaire !   Happy birthday!
Mes / Nos meilleurs vĹ“ux !   Best wishes!
Nous nous rĂ©jouissons pour toi / vous !   We’re so happy for you!
Le nouveau est arrivĂ©e !   Beaujolais nouveau is here!
SantĂ© !   Cheers!
Tchin-tchin !   Cheers!
Toutes mes / nos fĂ©licitations !   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 Ă  la santĂ© de   to drink to the health of
boire au succès de   to drink to the success of
cĂ©lĂ©brer   to celebrate
complimenter   to congratulate
donner   to give
faire la fĂŞte (informal)   to live it up
faire un cadeau (Ă  qqun)   to give (someone) a present
fĂ©liciter   to congratulate
festoyer   to feast
fĂŞter   to celebrate
offrir en cadeau   to give as a present
porter un toast Ă    to propose a toast to
prĂ©senter ses fĂ©licitations Ă    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

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Celebratory French expressions

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