10 Ways to Respond to Congratulations
Receiving a compliment or congratulations is a wonderful feeling! In English, the most common response is simply “Thank you,” but relying on it too much can sound repetitive. Knowing 10 Ways to Respond to Congratulations allows you to show appreciation, humility, or shared credit, making your response feel much more genuine and natural. Mastering these phrases is essential for closing conversations smoothly and politely.
Expressions for Acknowledging Praise
These expressions are grouped based on the emotion you want to express—whether you’re being humble, sharing credit, or showing genuine surprise.
Simple and Polite Acknowledgements
These phrases are suitable for almost any situation and are easy to use when you want to keep the reply brief but warm.
- Thank you, I appreciate that.
- Meaning & Use: A slight upgrade from a simple “Thank you.” Adding “I appreciate that” shows you genuinely value their kind words and recognition of your effort.
- Example: (After getting a promotion) “Congratulations on the new role!” → “Thank you, I appreciate that. I’m very excited about it.”
- I’m glad you think so.
- Meaning & Use: This response is great when the congratulations are for a job well done or an effort where a good result was important (like a presentation or a performance). It shows the compliment is accepted.
- Example: (After a performance) “That was a brilliant presentation!” → “I’m glad you think so. I worked hard on those slides.”
- That’s very kind of you to say.
- Meaning & Use: A very polite and slightly formal way to respond, showing humility and appreciation for their compliment. Use this when the compliment is very generous or personal.
- Example: (After being complimented on a design) “Your work on this website is outstanding.” → “That’s very kind of you to say.“
Sharing the Credit (Humble Responses)
Use these phrases when you want to avoid sounding boastful and prefer to share the credit with others or downplay the effort involved.
- It was a team effort.
- Meaning & Use: A professional and humble response, especially appropriate in a work context. It credits the people you worked with rather than taking all the praise yourself.
- Example: (After winning a company award) “Congratulations on leading the successful project!” → “It was a team effort. I couldn’t have done it without everyone’s help.”
- I got a little lucky.
- Meaning & Use: A modest way to respond, often used for wins or achievements that involved an element of chance or were more difficult than expected. It shows humility.
- Example: (After winning a small raffle) “You won the grand prize! Congrats!” → “I got a little lucky. I never win anything!”
- It took a lot of work!
- Meaning & Use: This response acknowledges the effort involved, making the success sound earned rather than simply given. It provides a brief, relatable context for the achievement.
- Example: (After graduating) “Congratulations on getting your degree!” → “Thank you! It took a lot of work!“
Casual and Enthusiastic Responses
These are perfect for close friends and family when you want to share your excitement openly.
- Thanks! I’m totally thrilled.
- Meaning & Use: A casual, open expression of excitement. “Thrilled” means extremely pleased or excited. Use this when you are genuinely ecstatic about the news.
- Example: (After moving into a new home) “Congrats on the beautiful new place!” → “Thanks! I’m totally thrilled. Come over and see it soon.”
- It’s been a long time coming.
- Meaning & Use: This idiomatic phrase is used when an achievement was expected, worked for, or desired for a long time. It acknowledges the long process that led to the success.
- Example: (After a long engagement) “Congratulations on finally setting the wedding date!” → “Thanks! It’s been a long time coming!“
- I appreciate you noticing.
- Meaning & Use: A warm, informal way to thank someone for taking the time to notice and comment on your success. It recognizes their attention.
- Example: (After completing a major renovation) “The new office space looks incredible!” → “I appreciate you noticing. We put a lot of effort into the details.”
- I’m just relieved!
- Meaning & Use: This phrase is perfect for when the accomplishment was stressful, difficult, or involved overcoming a big challenge (like an exam, an intense deadline, or an injury). It shares the feeling of the pressure being gone.
- Example: (After passing a difficult driving test) “Congratulations, you passed!” → “Oh, I’m just relieved! I thought I failed the parking part.”
Phrases in Conversation
Here are a few short, realistic dialogues showing these 10 Ways to Respond to Congratulations in action.
Dialogue 1 (Work/Team)
Colleague A: “Congratulations on hitting the sales target this quarter!”
Colleague B: “Thank you, I appreciate that. It was a team effort, though.”
Dialogue 2 (Personal/Excitement)
Friend A: “You’re having a baby! Congratulations!”
Friend B: “Thanks! I’m totally thrilled. It’s been a long time coming.”
Dialogue 3 (Humble/Challenge)
Family Member: “Well done on climbing that mountain, that was incredible!”
Hiker: “Thanks! It took a lot of work! Honestly, I’m just relieved I made it to the top.”
Quick Tips for Responding
| Situation | Recommended Expression | Why? |
| Formal/Professional (Meeting, email) | Thank you, I appreciate that. / That’s very kind of you to say. | These are respectful and slightly reserved, suitable for professional settings. |
| Team Success (Group accomplishment) | It was a team effort. | This redirects praise to the whole group, showing strong collaboration and humility. |
| Difficult/Stressful Win (Exam, tough project) | I’m just relieved! / It took a lot of work! | These expressions add context by sharing the difficulty of the achievement. |
| Casual/Personal Excitement (Hobby, fun news) | Thanks! I’m totally thrilled. / I got a little lucky. | These show genuine emotion and are perfect for close friends and family. |
Using these 10 Ways to Respond to Congratulations will help you end a discussion gracefully, whether you want to be humble, excited, or professional. It shows you’re fluent in both the language and the social etiquette of English speakers.
Try using “That’s very kind of you to say” today! Who will be the first person to congratulate you?
