Congradulations vs. Congratulations: Which Is Correct?

You’ve probably seen both congradulations and congratulations online — but only one of them is spelled correctly.

Here’s the quick rule:

✅ Congratulations → correct spelling
❌ Congradulations → common misspelling

1. Congratulations: The Correct Form

Meaning

“Congratulations” is a plural noun used to express praise, joy, or approval when someone achieves something or celebrates success.
It comes from the verb “congratulate”, which means to express good wishes.

Examples (10 total)

1. Congratulations on your new job!
2. I wanted to say congratulations on your graduation.
3. Congratulations to the winners of the competition.
4. Congratulations! You finally did it.
5. We sent them our warmest congratulations.
6. Congratulations on your engagement!
7. Congratulations are in order for the whole team.
8. She received congratulations from her friends and family.
9. A big congratulations to everyone who participated!
10. Please join me in offering our congratulations to the couple.

🧠 Tip:
Always spell it with a “t”, not a “d.”

“Congratulations” comes from gratitude — not graduate.

2. Congradulations: A Common Misspelling

Why People Get It Wrong

Many people write “congradulations” by accident because it sounds similar when spoken, especially after someone graduates.
They associate the word with graduation — hence, the mistaken spelling with a “d.”

But grammatically, “congradulations” is incorrect and not recognized in dictionaries or formal writing.

Examples (all incorrect)

1. ❌ Congradulations on your promotion!
2. ❌ We want to send our congradulations to the winners.
3. ❌ Congradulations, you made it!

✅ Corrected:

1. Congratulations on your promotion!
2. We want to send our congratulations to the winners.
3. Congratulations, you made it!

3. Origin and Meaning

Congratulations comes from the Latin word congratulatio, meaning expression of joy or good wishes shared with someone else.

• Prefix “con-” = together
• Root “gratul-” = pleasing, thankful, or joyful

So, the word literally means “to share joy or thanks together.”

4. How to Remember the Correct Spelling

👉 Think of “gratitude” or “grateful.”
Both share the root “grat”, not “grad.”

💡 Memory Trick:

You “congratulate” someone to show gratitude, not to celebrate their graduation.

5. Common Phrases with “Congratulations”

• Congratulations on your success!
• My congratulations to you.
• Heartfelt congratulations.
• Congratulations are in order.
• Warm congratulations on your achievement.

6. Why It’s Confusing

“Congradulations” appears frequently online, especially in social media posts or graduation cards, which adds to the confusion.
However, only “congratulations” is correct — it’s the one you’ll see in dictionaries, official documents, and professional messages.

Modern proofreading tools like Humanizey can instantly fix such spelling mistakes and ensure your writing looks polished and humanlike.

FAQs

1. Is “congradulations” ever acceptable?

No. It’s always a spelling error, even in casual writing.

2. Why does “congratulations” end with an “s”?

Because it refers to multiple expressions of joy or goodwill — it’s plural by nature.

3. Can I say “congratulation” (singular)?

It’s rare, but possible in formal English:

A hearty congratulation to you on your success!
However, “congratulations” is almost always used in plural form.

4. What’s the verb form?

The verb is “to congratulate.”
Example: We congratulate you on your success.

Practice: Choose the Correct Spelling

(Answers are listed at the end.)

1. ___ on your new home!
2. We want to send our heartfelt ___.
3. She received many ___ from her friends.
4. ___, you did an amazing job!
5. He said “___” to his team after the big win.

Answers

1. Congratulations
2. congratulations
3. congratulations
4. Congratulations
5. congratulations