How To Say Congratulations In Arabic (Any Occasion)

The most common way to say ‘congratulations’ in Arabic to someone (for pretty much any occasion) is:

mabrūk (مَبْرُوك) Play audio Listen to how it's pronounced

It sounds like: mab-rook.

This is the word you’ll hear and use most often. Think of it like the standard “congratulations!” in English.

You can use mabrūk for nearly any happy news - if someone passes a test, gets married, buys something new, or has a birthday, for example.

This word works in formal situations (Modern Standard Arabic or MSA) and casual chats (dialects like Egyptian, Syrian, Saudi, Moroccan, etc.).

Everyone understands mabrūk.

Quick Note: Sometimes people mention the word mubārak (مُبَارَك). This word means “blessed” and is technically the very formal, correct MSA word you might see in writing or religious contexts. But honestly, almost everyone just says mabrūk in everyday life.

Saying it stronger & how to reply

Want to make your congratulations sound even happier?

Or need to know what to say back?

Here’s how:

Extra Enthusiasm: alf mabrūk (أَلْف مَبْرُوك)

Alf (أَلْف) means “a thousand”. So, alf mabrūk is like saying “a thousand congratulations!” or “huge congrats!” Use it when you’re really happy for someone, like for weddings, new babies, or graduating.

The Formal/Classical Option: mubārak (مُبَارَك)

Remember this word means “blessed”.

You might use it in specific phrases (see the next section) or if you want to sound extra formal. But usually, mabrūk is fine.

Responding to “congratulations”: allāh yubārik fīk / fīki / fīkum (الله يُبَارِك فِيك / فِيكِ / فِيكُم)

If someone says mabrūk to you, this is the perfect way to reply.

It means: “May God bless you.”

To a boy/man: allāh yubārik fīk (sounds like: Allah yoo-bah-rik feek)
To a girl/woman: allāh yubārik fīki (sounds like: Allah yoo-bah-rik fee-kee)
To two or more people: allāh yubārik fīkum (sounds like: Allah yoo-bah-rik fee-koom)

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Congratulations for specific occasions

While mabrūk works for most things, sometimes there are special phrases, especially for holidays or big life events.

Islamic holidays & occasions

These holidays are important in Islamic countries.

Eid (Al-Fitr / Al-Adha - Festivals after Ramadan and during pilgrimage time):

ʿīd mubārak (عِيد مُبَارَك) - Means “Blessed Eid”. This is the most common greeting.
ʿīd Saʿīd (عِيد سَعِيد) - Means “Happy Eid”. Also very common.

Ramadan (The month of fasting):

ramaḍān mubārak (رَمَضَان مُبَارَك) - “Blessed Ramadan”
ramaḍān Karīm (رَمَضَان كَرِيم) - “Generous Ramadan” (Wishing a generous month)

Hajj (The main pilgrimage to Mecca):

To someone who finished Hajj: Ḥajj Mabrūr (حَجّ مَبْرُور) - Means “(May it be an) accepted Hajj”.

Umrah (A smaller pilgrimage):

To someone who finished Umrah: ʿUmrah Maqbūlah (عُمْرَة مَقْبُولَة) - Means “(May it be an) accepted Umrah”.

Success (school, work, goals)

Someone graduated, got a new job, or achieved something great?

Standard: mabrūk (مَبْرُوك) or alf mabrūk (أَلْف مَبْرُوك) are perfect!

Optional - added detail:

For graduation/success: You can say mabrūk an-najāḥ! (مَبْرُوك النَّجَاح!) - “Congrats on the success!”
For a new job: You can say mabrūk al-waẓīfah! (مَبْرُوك الوَظِيفَة!) - “Congrats on the job!”

For a new baby

Celebrating a new arrival?

Standard: mabrūk (مَبْرُوك) or alf mabrūk (أَلْف مَبْرُوك) are great choices.

Another Option (Especially in Gulf countries): mabrūk mā jākem (مَبْرُوك ما جاكم) This means something like “Congratulations on what has come to you” or “Congrats on the arrival!”

Responding: The parents will usually reply allāh yubārik fīk/fīki/fīkum.

OPTIONAL: You’ll notice in examples like mabrūk an-najāḥ (مَبْرُوك النَّجَاح), there is no “on” or “for”. In English, for example, we say “congrats on the success”. The “on” is optional in spoken Arabic. You can say mabrūk an-najāḥ or mabrūk ʿalā an-najāḥ.

The easiest and most useful word for saying “congratulations” in Arabic is mabrūk.

Remember that one, and you’re set for most happy occasions.

For extra smiles, use alf mabrūk.

And for holidays like Eid or Ramadan, try the special greetings like ʿīd mubārak or ramaḍān mubārak.

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