IPA: /kənˈɡræʧʊˌleɪt/
KK: /kənˈɡrætʃʊˌleɪt/
To express happiness or praise to someone for their success or good luck.
I want to congratulate you on your promotion!
Past: congratulated
Past Participle: congratulated
Congratulate is formed from "con-" (meaning together) and "gratulare" (meaning to rejoice or express joy). The word describes the act of expressing joy together with someone for their achievements or good fortune.
Think of sharing joy ('con-') with someone who has achieved something ('gratulare') — that's why congratulate means to express joy for someone's success.