Plural of Congratulations
In the familiar expression offered after someone’s success or good news, English normally uses plural “congratulations.” Cambridge labels that expression plural and separately records uncountable “congratulation” for the act of congratulating. Merriam-Webster likewise notes that the congratulatory-expression sense is usually plural.
“Congratulations” is the normal plural-form expression used to congratulate someone. “Congratulation” also exists, but it has separate and less routine uses.
Key details
Choose the right form
| Meaning / situation | Form / construction | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| ordinary congratulatory expression | congratulations | Normal plural form. |
| act of congratulating | congratulation | Separate uncountable use in Cambridge. |
Quick tests
Plural-choice test
Are you offering good wishes for someone’s success or happy event?
If yes: Use “Congratulations” or plural “congratulations.”
If no: If you mean the act of congratulating, use the grammar of “congratulation” for that separate sense.
Caveat: The familiar expression is lexicalized in the plural, so a mechanical singular substitution can sound unnatural or change the sense.
Examples
Congratulations on your promotion!
The routine congratulatory expression is plural.
Please give her my congratulations.
The expression remains plural in a noun phrase.
The ceremony ended with a round of congratulation.
This uses the separate act-of-congratulating sense.
Further guidance
Core difference
Use “congratulations” for the normal congratulatory expression.
Fast Test
If you mean the act/process of congratulating rather than the expression itself, “congratulation” may be a different noun use.
Usage Boundary
Do not replace routine “congratulations” with singular “congratulation” merely to force a singular/plural pair.
Sources and evidence
Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.
- CONGRATULATION | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary (opens in a new tab)Cambridge University Press · Cambridge labels congratulations plural for the congratulatory expression while treating congratulation as uncountable for the act of congratulating.
- CONGRATULATION Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster (opens in a new tab)Merriam-Webster · Merriam-Webster says congratulation meaning a congratulatory expression is usually plural.