gratuliere

Gratuliere is the German verb gratulieren in the first-person singular present tense, meaning "I congratulate." It is commonly used with a dative object, as in "Ich gratuliere dir zu deinem Geburtstag" (I congratulate you on your birthday). The form can also appear as the imperative "Gratuliere!" used as a standalone congratulatory exclamation.

Usage of gratulieren centers on acknowledging achievements and milestones. Typical constructions include "zu etwas gratulieren" (to congratulate someone on something), for example, "Ich gratuliere dir zu deiner Beförderung." In everyday speech, people also say "Herzlichen Glückwunsch" or simply "Gratuliere!" to offer congratulations. In more formal writing, speakers may prefer "ich beglückwünsche Sie" to express the same sentiment with a stronger nuance of joy.

Etymology and related terms: gratulieren comes from Latin gratulari, meaning to thank or to congratulate, via Old High German and Early New High German developments. The related noun Gratulation denotes a congratulation or expression of good wishes. The verb beglückwünschen is a close synonym used especially in formal or emphatic contexts, translating roughly to "to felicitate" or "to congratulate wholeheartedly."

See also: Glückwünsche, Gratulation, gratulieren; beglückwünschen. In German-speaking regions, gratulieren is the standard verb for most occasions, while more formal communications may opt for beglückwünschen or conventional phrases like "Herzlichen Glückwunsch zum ..." to convey congratulations.