おめでとうございます

Definition

Used to congratulate someone on an achievement, birthday, or special occasion. The casual form is おめでとう (omedetou).

Example

Etymology

'おめでとうございます' (omedetou gozaimasu) is built from 'おめでとう' (omedetou) meaning 'congratulations', with the polite suffix 'ございます' (gozaimasu).

How & Where It’s Used

'おめでとうございます' is used in formal situations to express congratulations, whereas 'おめでとう' is more casual. Both are commonly spoken.

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