¿Enhorabuena?

Question

I noticed this word (or phrase) in Congratulations threads. And I am interested to know what it means.

• Is the meaning the same like "Felicitaciones", or

• There are occasions when its appropriete to use "Enhorabuena", and other occasions when is appropriate to use "Felicitaciones"?

Thank you in advance.

Have a look in the SD translate function above amiga:) - ian-hill, Dec 7, 2013

Good question lilium. I was wondering about that yesterday. - 0095ca4c, Dec 8, 2013

Answer 1

Theoretically this is the rule: Enhorabuena: facts/events that happen once or a few times in your life and involve an effort or some luck, for example: weddings

Felicidades: facts/events that happen more often and don't involve any personal effort. FOr example: a birthday

But Spanish speakers not always follow this rule, for example I would say 'felicidades' to a person who is going to graduate.

By the way, I'm from Spain and here we rather use 'felicidades' instead of 'felicitaciones'

(Sorry for my english mistakes!)

Gracias amiga - your English is just fine - bien hecho - ian-hill, Dec 7, 2013

Hola AitaFM! Bienvenida a SD. Thank you for that information, it's very useful. - 0095ca4c, Dec 8, 2013

Thank you very much much Aita! You explained it very well, I can perfectly understand your English. Saludos :) - 00b5f6c6, Dec 8, 2013