おめでとー
Meaning: Congratulations — a casual, cheerful way to celebrate someone's achievement or happy occasion.
The casual version of おめでとうございます, with the elongated ー giving it an upbeat, celebratory feel. Used for birthdays, passing exams, getting a job, or any happy occasion among friends. In social media and texting, it is often combined with emoji or exclamation marks for extra enthusiasm.
Examples
- 誕生日おめでとー!素敵な一年にしてね。 生日快乐!希望你有美好的一年。¡Feliz cumpleaños! Que tengas un año genial.생일 おめでとー! 멋진 한 해 보내.
- 合格おめでとー!やったじゃん! 考过了,恭喜!太棒了!¡Enhorabuena por aprobar! ¡Lo has conseguido!합격 おめでとー! 대단하다!
- 結婚おめでとー、幸せにね! 结婚おめでとー,要幸福哦!¡Enhorabuena por la boda, que seáis muy felices!결혼 おめでとー, 행복해!
Pronunciation
/o.me.de.toː/
Usage Guide
Context: celebrations, birthdays, achievements, social media
Tone: celebratory, cheerful
✓ Do Say
- おめでとー!めっちゃ頑張ったもんね (Congrats! You worked really hard for it)おめでとー!めっちゃ頑張ったもんね(恭喜!你真的超努力的)¡Enhorabuena! Te has esforzado un montón (Congrats! You worked really hard for it)おめでとー!めっちゃ頑張ったもんね (축하해! 진짜 열심히 했잖아)
- 昇進おめでとー!飲みに行こう! (Congrats on the promotion! Let's go for drinks!)昇進おめでとー!飲みに行こう!(恭喜升职!去喝一杯吧!)¡Enhorabuena por el ascenso! ¡Vamos a celebrarlo! (Congrats on the promotion! Let's go for drinks!)昇進おめでとー!飲みに行こう! (승진 축하해! 한잔하러 가자!)
✗ Don't Say
- 上司や目上の人には「おめでとうございます」を使う (Use おめでとうございます with superiors and seniors)对上司或长辈应使用「おめでとうございます」Con superiores y personas mayores, usa おめでとうございます상사나 윗사람에게는 「おめでとうございます」를 사용한다
Common Mistakes
- Using おめでとー in formal congratulatory messages — business and formal occasions require おめでとうございます
Origin & History
Casual variant of おめでとう (omedetou), from めでたい (medetai, auspicious/happy). The ー elongation adds a cheerful, casual tone. Standard celebratory expression in Japanese.
Cultural Context
Era: Longstanding expression, casual form common in modern texting
Generation: All ages
Social background: Universal casual
Regional notes: Used across all of Japan. The go-to casual congratulation. Often paired with emoji in digital communication.
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