Looking for synonyms for hooray usually means you want another way to express excitement, celebration, approval, or happiness. “Hooray!” is a cheerful exclamation used when something good happens, a goal is achieved, or a person wants to celebrate. It is common in everyday conversation, messages, celebrations, sports, and informal writing.
However, not every alternative carries exactly the same feeling. Hurray and hurrah are very close alternatives, while yay sounds more casual and modern. Bravo expresses approval or admiration, especially after a performance. Congratulations celebrates someone’s achievement, while hooray simply expresses excitement. This guide explains the closest synonyms, formal and casual alternatives, contextual differences, grammar, examples, email usage, and how to choose the right expression.
Quick Answer
The closest synonyms for hooray include hurray, hurrah, yay, hip hip hooray, bravo, cheers, congratulations, fantastic, wonderful, and well done. The best choice depends on what you want to express: excitement, celebration, approval, praise, or congratulations. Yay is casual, while bravo and well done focus more on approval or achievement.
Quick List: Alternatives to “Hooray”
Closest Alternatives
- Hurray
- Hurrah
- Yay
- Hip hip hooray
- Huzzah
Celebration and Excitement
- Woohoo
- Woo-hoo
- Yippee
- Yahoo
- Hoorah
- We did it!
- Yes!
- Awesome!
Praise and Approval
- Bravo!
- Well done!
- Great job!
- Excellent!
- Fantastic!
- Wonderful!
- Good for you!
Congratulations
- Congratulations!
- Congrats!
- Well deserved!
- What an achievement!
- You did it!
More Formal Expressions
- Congratulations
- Excellent work
- Well done
- A wonderful achievement
- Our congratulations
- This is excellent news
- We are delighted
These expressions overlap with hooray, but they are not all exact synonyms. Some express excitement, while others communicate praise or congratulations.
Formal Alternatives to “Hooray”
Because hooray is an informal exclamation, truly formal synonyms are limited. In professional writing, it is usually better to express the reason for your happiness directly.
1. Congratulations!
Meaning: An expression of pleasure or approval because someone has achieved something.
Explanation: Congratulations is not a perfect synonym for hooray. It is specifically directed toward an achievement, success, milestone, or positive event.
Example:
“Congratulations on completing the project ahead of schedule.”
Best Use: Professional emails, academic achievements, promotions, awards, and milestones.
Worst Use: It can sound inappropriate when you simply want to express general excitement.
Tone: Warm, professional, and positive.
2. Excellent!
Meaning: An enthusiastic expression of approval.
Explanation: Excellent! can replace hooray when the excitement comes from approval of something that has happened or been done.
Example:
“Excellent! The final report has been approved.”
Best Use: Workplace communication, education, meetings, and professional conversations.
Worst Use: It does not necessarily celebrate a personal achievement.
Tone: Professional and enthusiastic.
3. Well Done!
Meaning: An expression of praise for something successfully completed.
Explanation: This focuses on someone’s performance rather than general celebration.
Example:
“Well done on completing the presentation so successfully.”
Best Use: Workplace feedback, school, sports, performances, and achievements.
Worst Use: It can sound patronizing if used toward an adult in the wrong context.
Tone: Encouraging and approving.
4. A Wonderful Achievement
Meaning: A positive description of an important accomplishment.
Explanation: This is a noun phrase rather than an exclamation. It works better in formal writing than hooray.
Example:
“Completing the program is a wonderful achievement.”
Best Use: Formal messages, announcements, certificates, and congratulatory writing.
Worst Use: It sounds unnatural as a quick conversational reaction.
Tone: Warm and formal.
5. Excellent News!
Meaning: An enthusiastic response to positive information.
Explanation: This is useful when hooray would express happiness about receiving good news.
Example:
“Excellent news! The proposal has been accepted.”
Best Use: Professional emails and workplace announcements.
Worst Use: Avoid it when the news is only mildly positive or when a neutral tone is required.
Tone: Professional and upbeat.
6. We Are Delighted
Meaning: A formal way to express strong happiness or satisfaction.
Explanation: This is much more formal than hooray and is normally used in complete sentences.
Example:
“We are delighted to announce the successful completion of the program.”
Best Use: Formal announcements, business communication, and institutional writing.
Worst Use: Casual messages, where it may sound stiff.
Tone: Formal and positive.
7. We Are Pleased
Meaning: A formal expression of satisfaction or happiness.
Explanation: This is more restrained than hooray. It communicates positive feelings without sounding highly excited.
Example:
“We are pleased to confirm that your application has been approved.”
Best Use: Business letters, official notices, and professional emails.
Worst Use: It does not communicate the same energetic excitement as hooray.
Tone: Formal and restrained.
8. A Significant Achievement
Meaning: A notable accomplishment.
Explanation: This describes the event rather than expressing excitement about it.
Example:
“Completing the research project was a significant achievement.”
Best Use: Academic writing, reports, biographies, and formal evaluations.
Worst Use: It is not suitable as a direct conversational exclamation.
Tone: Formal and objective.
9. Our Congratulations
Meaning: A formal expression of congratulations from a group or organization.
Explanation: This is useful when an institution or team wants to recognize someone’s achievement.
Example:
“Please accept our congratulations on your successful graduation.”
Best Use: Formal letters, announcements, and organizational messages.
Worst Use: Casual conversations where “Congrats!” would sound more natural.
Tone: Formal and respectful.
10. We Are Delighted to Announce
Meaning: A formal way to introduce positive news.
Explanation: This is not an exact synonym for hooray, but it can communicate the same positive mood in an announcement.
Example:
“We are delighted to announce the opening of our new community center.”
Best Use: Business announcements, school notices, organizational communications, and press-style writing.
Worst Use: Informal text messages.
Tone: Formal and celebratory.
Semi-Formal & Neutral Alternatives
11. Bravo!
Meaning: An enthusiastic expression of approval or praise.
Explanation: Bravo is traditionally associated with praising a performance. It can also be used more broadly to show strong approval.
Example:
“Bravo! That was an impressive presentation.”
Best Use: Performances, speeches, presentations, and achievements.
Worst Use: It may sound theatrical in some ordinary workplace conversations.
Tone: Enthusiastic and approving.
12. Well Done!
Meaning: Praise for a successful effort or result.
Example:
“Well done! You handled the presentation confidently.”
Best Use: School, work, sports, and personal achievements.
Worst Use: Avoid overusing it with people who may perceive it as overly parental.
Tone: Encouraging.
13. Great Job!
Meaning: Strong approval of someone’s work or performance.
Example:
“Great job on organizing the event.”
Best Use: Workplace feedback, school, sports, and everyday conversation.
Worst Use: It can sound generic if you never identify what was done well.
Tone: Friendly and positive.
14. Fantastic!
Meaning: A strong expression of enthusiasm or approval.
Example:
“Fantastic! We finally have the results.”
Best Use: Everyday conversation, messages, and informal professional settings.
Worst Use: May be too enthusiastic for serious or highly formal correspondence.
Tone: Enthusiastic.
15. Wonderful!
Meaning: An expression of strong pleasure or approval.
Example:
“Wonderful! I’m glad everything worked out.”
Best Use: Conversations, messages, announcements, and friendly correspondence.
Worst Use: Can sound overly enthusiastic in formal business writing.
Tone: Warm and cheerful.
16. Amazing!
Meaning: An enthusiastic reaction to something impressive or unexpected.
Example:
“Amazing! You finished the project already.”
Best Use: Casual conversations and messages.
Worst Use: Avoid it when a restrained professional tone is necessary.
Tone: Casual and enthusiastic.
17. Great!
Meaning: A short expression of approval, happiness, or agreement.
Example:
“Great! I’ll see you at the meeting tomorrow.”
Best Use: Everyday communication and informal workplace messages.
Worst Use: It may be too vague when a formal response requires detail.
Tone: Neutral to casual.
18. Fantastic News!
Meaning: A strong expression of happiness about positive information.
Example:
“Fantastic news! Your application was successful.”
Best Use: Friendly emails, messages, and announcements.
Worst Use: Too enthusiastic for situations requiring a restrained response.
Tone: Cheerful and energetic.
19. What a Success!
Meaning: An enthusiastic statement celebrating a successful result.
Example:
“What a success! The fundraiser exceeded its goal.”
Best Use: Events, projects, campaigns, and celebrations.
Worst Use: It may sound exaggerated when the result is ordinary.
Tone: Celebratory.
20. We Did It!
Meaning: An expression of shared excitement after accomplishing something.
Example:
“We did it! The team completed the challenge.”
Best Use: Group achievements, sports, school projects, and personal milestones.
Worst Use: Not appropriate if you were not involved in the achievement.
Tone: Casual and celebratory.
Informal and Casual Alternatives
21. Yay!
Meaning: A short, cheerful expression of happiness or excitement.
Example:
“Yay! We get to go tomorrow.”
When it sounds natural: Text messages, social media, conversations, and casual writing.
When to avoid it: Formal business emails, academic papers, and official announcements.
Tone: Very casual and cheerful.
22. Woohoo!
Meaning: A highly energetic expression of excitement or celebration.
Example:
“Woohoo! We finally finished!”
When it sounds natural: Celebrations, messages, sports, and casual conversations.
When to avoid it: Formal or serious situations.
Tone: Very casual and energetic.
23. Yippee!
Meaning: An old-fashioned but cheerful expression of excitement.
Example:
“Yippee! School is finished for the week.”
When it sounds natural: Playful or humorous situations.
When to avoid it: Professional writing.
Tone: Playful and informal.
24. Awesome!
Meaning: A casual expression of strong approval or excitement.
Example:
“Awesome! You got the tickets.”
When it sounds natural: Messages, conversations, social media, and informal settings.
When to avoid it: Highly formal correspondence.
Tone: Casual and enthusiastic.
25. Yes!
Meaning: An energetic expression of happiness, agreement, or success.
Example:
“Yes! We solved the problem.”
When it sounds natural: Everyday conversation, messages, and celebrations.
When to avoid it: Formal documents where a complete statement would be clearer.
Tone: Energetic and casual.
26. We Did It!
Meaning: A celebration of a shared accomplishment.
Example:
“We did it! The team reached the final.”
When it sounds natural: Group achievements and celebrations.
When to avoid it: When the speaker was not involved.
Tone: Excited and communal.
True Synonyms vs. Contextual Alternatives
| Type | What It Means | Can It Replace “Hooray”? |
|---|---|---|
| True synonym | A word with nearly the same celebratory meaning | Hurray, hurrah |
| Near synonym | Similar expression with a slight difference | Yay, huzzah |
| Contextual alternative | Works in certain situations | Bravo, congratulations |
| Broader expression | General positive reaction | Great, fantastic |
| Narrower expression | Celebrates a specific type of event | Congratulations, well done |
The closest replacements are hurray, hurrah, and, in many casual situations, yay. However, yay has a more modern and informal feel.
Congratulations should not be treated as an exact synonym. It is specifically connected with success, achievement, or a positive event. Likewise, bravo is mainly an expression of praise, especially after a performance.
Industry-Specific Usage
Business Writing
Business writing usually avoids hooray because the expression is highly informal. Instead, use:
- Congratulations
- Excellent news
- Well done
- We are pleased
- We are delighted
- This is an excellent achievement
Example:
Instead of:
“Hooray! We won the contract.”
A professional version might be:
“We are pleased to announce that we have been awarded the contract.”
Corporate Communication
Company announcements can express enthusiasm without becoming overly casual.
Example:
“We are delighted to announce the successful completion of the project.”
For an internal team message, a more relaxed expression may work:
“Great work, everyone. We did it!”
The audience determines the appropriate level of enthusiasm.
Academic Writing
Academic writing generally does not use hooray, yay, or woohoo.
Instead, describe the achievement objectively:
“The successful completion of the study represents a significant achievement.”
For a congratulatory message to a student, however, Congratulations! or Well done! can be perfectly natural.
Customer Service
Customer service requires enthusiasm balanced with professionalism.
Good options include:
- Great news!
- I’m pleased to confirm…
- We’re happy to let you know…
- Congratulations!
- That’s wonderful news.
Example:
“Great news! Your replacement order has been processed and will be shipped shortly.”
Legal Writing
Legal documents normally require precise, neutral language. Expressions such as hooray, yay, and woohoo are inappropriate in formal legal documents.
Instead of celebratory language, state the relevant fact directly.
For example:
“The court issued its decision in favor of the claimant.”
The exact terminology depends on the legal context and jurisdiction, so informal celebratory expressions should not be substituted for precise legal language.
Email Communication
For professional emails, the best alternative depends on why you are saying hooray.
Achievement: “Congratulations!”
Positive news: “Excellent news!”
Successful work: “Well done!”
Team success: “Great work, everyone!”
Formal announcement: “We are delighted to announce…”
Email Examples
1. Celebrating a Team Achievement
Subject: Congratulations on the Successful Launch
Hi Team,
Congratulations on the successful launch. Everyone’s preparation and careful work helped us reach this milestone.
Thank you for the effort you put in throughout the project.
Best,
Maya
2. Sharing Positive News
Subject: Excellent News About the Proposal
Hello Daniel,
Excellent news—the proposal has been approved.
Thank you for your thoughtful revisions and for helping us prepare the final version. I’ll share the next steps with the team shortly.
Best regards,
Alex
3. Praising an Employee
Subject: Well Done on the Presentation
Hi Jordan,
Well done on today’s presentation. You explained the main points clearly and handled the questions confidently.
The client feedback was very positive.
Best,
Sam
4. Formal Announcement
Subject: Successful Completion of the Program
Dear Participants,
We are delighted to announce the successful completion of this year’s program.
Thank you for your commitment and participation. We look forward to seeing what you accomplish next.
Kind regards,
Program Team
5. Casual Workplace Message
Subject: We Did It!
Hi everyone,
We did it! The final version is ready, and everything is now in place for tomorrow’s launch.
Thanks for all your help getting us across the finish line.
Cheers,
Chris
Short Dialogue Examples
Workplace
Person A: The client approved the proposal.
Person B: Excellent! That’s great news.
Classroom
Person A: I finally finished my project.
Person B: Yay! You must be relieved.
Customer Service
Person A: Has my replacement been approved?
Person B: Yes. Great news—the new item will be sent shortly.
Casual Conversation
Person A: We got tickets for the concert!
Person B: Woohoo! That’s awesome!
Professional Discussion
Person A: The team completed the project ahead of schedule.
Person B: Well done. That’s a strong result.
How to Replace “Hooray” in a Sentence
1. Simple excitement
Original:
“Hooray! We finished the project.”
Alternative:
“Yay! We finished the project.”
Why it works:
Both express excitement, but yay sounds more casual and modern.
2. Professional celebration
Original:
“Hooray! We won the award.”
Alternative:
“Congratulations on receiving the award.”
Why it works:
The alternative is appropriate for professional or formal communication and focuses on the achievement.
3. Praising performance
Original:
“Hooray! You did a great job.”
Alternative:
“Well done! You did a great job.”
Why it works:
Well done directly praises someone’s performance.
4. Celebrating a performance
Original:
“Hooray! That was an amazing performance.”
Alternative:
“Bravo! That was an amazing performance.”
Why it works:
Bravo is especially natural when praising a performance.
5. Formal announcement
Original:
“Hooray! Our new center is finally open.”
Alternative:
“We are delighted to announce that our new center is now open.”
Why it works:
The alternative preserves the positive feeling while fitting an official announcement.
6. Group accomplishment
Original:
“Hooray! We completed the challenge.”
Alternative:
“We did it! We completed the challenge.”
Why it works:
The alternative highlights shared accomplishment and keeps the informal celebratory tone.
7. Positive workplace news
Original:
“Hooray! The proposal was approved.”
Alternative:
“Excellent news! The proposal was approved.”
Why it works:
Excellent news sounds enthusiastic without being as playful as hooray.
8. Personal achievement
Original:
“Hooray! I passed my exam.”
Alternative:
“Yes! I passed my exam.”
Why it works:
Yes! naturally expresses excitement about a personal success.
Comparison Table
| Phrase | Tone | Meaning / Scope | Best Use | Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hooray | Cheerful | General celebration | Casual celebrations | “Hooray! We won!” |
| Hurray | Cheerful | Nearly the same as hooray | Celebrations | “Hurray! We made it!” |
| Hurrah | Traditional | Celebration or approval | Speeches, writing, celebrations | “Hurrah for the winners!” |
| Yay | Very casual | Happiness or excitement | Messages, conversation | “Yay! It worked!” |
| Woohoo | Very casual | Energetic excitement | Celebrations | “Woohoo! We finished!” |
| Bravo | Enthusiastic | Praise or approval | Performances | “Bravo! Excellent work.” |
| Congratulations | Professional | Celebration of achievement | Formal messages | “Congratulations on your promotion.” |
| Well done | Professional | Praise for successful work | Feedback | “Well done on the report.” |
| Great | Neutral-casual | Approval or positive reaction | Conversation | “Great! Let’s begin.” |
| Excellent | Professional | Strong approval | Work, school | “Excellent! That’s a strong result.” |
| Fantastic | Casual-professional | Strong enthusiasm | Conversation, messages | “Fantastic! We got approval.” |
| We did it | Casual | Shared achievement | Teams, celebrations | “We did it!” |
Which Alternative Should You Choose?
For formal writing
Choose congratulations, we are delighted, we are pleased, or excellent news, depending on the context.
For business communication
Use congratulations, well done, excellent news, or we are pleased to announce.
For academic writing
Use objective expressions such as a significant achievement rather than an exclamation.
For legal writing
Avoid celebratory exclamations. State the relevant event or result precisely.
For professional email
Congratulations, well done, and excellent news are usually safe choices.
For everyday conversation
Yay, great, awesome, fantastic, and yes are natural.
For casual messages
Yay!, woohoo!, and we did it! work especially well.
Grammar and Usage Guide
Is “Hooray” an Exclamation?
Yes. Hooray is an interjection, meaning it can stand alone to express an immediate emotion.
“Hooray!”
It can also appear in a longer sentence:
“Hooray, we finally finished!”
Because it expresses emotion, it is commonly followed by an exclamation mark.
Hooray vs. Hurray
Hooray and hurray are very close alternatives. Both function as celebratory interjections.
“Hooray! We won!”
“Hurray! We won!”
The choice is usually a matter of spelling preference and style.
Hooray vs. Hurrah
Hurrah is another traditional spelling and expression of celebration. It can have a slightly old-fashioned or literary feel.
“Hurrah for the winning team!”
In modern casual writing, hooray and yay are generally more familiar.
Does “Hooray” Need an Exclamation Mark?
Usually, yes, when it stands alone as an excited exclamation:
“Hooray!”
In more restrained writing, punctuation depends on the sentence and desired tone.
Is “Hooray” Formal?
No. Hooray is generally informal and celebratory. It is appropriate for conversations, informal writing, children’s writing, celebrations, and friendly messages.
For formal contexts, choose a complete expression such as:
“Congratulations on your achievement.”
Hooray for…
The structure “Hooray for + noun” is used to express support, praise, or celebration.
“Hooray for the winners!”
It can also be used playfully:
“Hooray for the weekend!”
Common Mistakes to Avoid
1. Treating “Congratulations” as an Exact Synonym
It is not. Congratulations specifically relates to achievement or a positive occasion.
2. Using “Yay” in Formal Documents
Yay is highly casual and may make professional writing sound inappropriate.
3. Using “Bravo” for Every Situation
Bravo is especially associated with praise, particularly after a performance.
4. Confusing Excitement With Praise
Hooray expresses celebration. Well done specifically praises someone.
5. Overusing Exclamation Marks
Multiple exclamation marks can make professional writing look overly emotional.
6. Using Casual Expressions With the Wrong Audience
“Woohoo!” may be perfect for a group chat but unsuitable for an official announcement.
7. Assuming Every Positive Expression Has the Same Meaning
Fantastic, congratulations, bravo, and hooray all express positivity but do so differently.
8. Choosing a Word Only Because It Sounds More Exciting
The best alternative should match the actual situation, not simply increase the emotional intensity.
When Not to Use “Hooray”
1. Formal Business Documents
Use professional wording instead of a casual exclamation.
2. Academic Papers
Academic writing generally requires an objective tone.
3. Legal Documents
Legal language should be precise and factual.
4. Serious Announcements
If the subject involves sensitive or difficult information, an enthusiastic exclamation may be inappropriate.
5. When You Need to Explain the Achievement
“Hooray!” communicates emotion but does not explain what happened. A complete sentence may be clearer.
6. When the Audience Expects Restraint
Some professional environments favor measured language. We are pleased to announce… may be more appropriate.
When “Hooray” Is Actually the Better Choice
Do not replace hooray simply for the sake of variety. It is excellent when you want a short, energetic, unmistakably cheerful reaction.
“Hooray! We finally made it!”
In a friendly message, replacing this with a formal phrase could make the sentence less natural.
Advanced Writer Tips
Tone Control
Use the expression that matches the emotional level you want:
- Formal: “We are delighted to announce…”
- Professional: “Congratulations!”
- Neutral: “Excellent!”
- Casual: “Yay!”
- Highly energetic: “Woohoo!”
Professional Email Etiquette
A professional message does not need to eliminate enthusiasm. It simply needs to express it appropriately.
Instead of:
“Woohoo! We got the contract!”
try:
“Excellent news—we’ve been awarded the contract.”
Politeness
Expressions of celebration can also recognize another person’s effort.
Compare:
“Hooray!”
with:
“Congratulations on your achievement.”
The second directly acknowledges the recipient.
Context Alignment
Think about three things before choosing an alternative:
- Who are you talking to?
- What happened?
- How excited should you sound?
Those questions often make the correct choice obvious.
Precision
Use congratulations for achievements, bravo for performances, well done for successful work, and yay for casual excitement.
Readability
Short expressions work best when the emotion is already obvious. In formal writing, replace an emotional exclamation with a clear sentence explaining the positive event.
Related Questions
What is another way to say “hooray”?
The closest alternatives are hurray, hurrah, and yay. Other contextual choices include bravo, congratulations, well done, fantastic, and woohoo.
What is a professional alternative to “hooray”?
For professional situations, use congratulations, well done, excellent news, or we are delighted to announce, depending on what you are celebrating.
What is a formal alternative to “hooray”?
There is no single perfect formal replacement. Congratulations, we are pleased, we are delighted, and this is an excellent achievement can work depending on the context.
What can I use instead of “hooray” in an email?
For professional emails, try Congratulations!, Excellent news!, Well done!, or We are delighted to announce…. For casual emails, Yay! or We did it! may be appropriate.
Is “hooray” formal?
No. It is generally informal and cheerful. It is suitable for casual conversation and celebrations but usually not for formal academic, legal, or corporate documents.
Can “yay” replace “hooray”?
Yes, in casual situations. Both can express happiness and excitement, but yay is generally more modern and informal.
What is the difference between “hooray” and “congratulations”?
Hooray expresses excitement or celebration in general. Congratulations specifically recognizes someone’s achievement, success, or good fortune.
FAQs
1. What is the closest synonym for “hooray”?
Hurray and hurrah are among the closest synonyms because they have nearly the same celebratory meaning. Yay is also close but sounds more casual and modern.
2. Is “yay” more casual than “hooray”?
Yes. Both are informal, but yay is especially common in casual speech, texting, and social media. Hooray can sound slightly more traditional or deliberately celebratory.
3. Can I use “hooray” in a professional email?
You can use it in a very informal workplace where the tone permits it, but congratulations, excellent news, or well done are generally safer for professional emails.
4. Is “bravo” a synonym for “hooray”?
Only in some contexts. Both can express enthusiasm, but bravo primarily communicates praise or approval, especially after a performance or impressive accomplishment.
5. What is a good synonym for “hooray” in formal writing?
There is no universal one-word replacement. Depending on the context, use congratulations, a significant achievement, we are delighted, or excellent news.
6. What is the difference between “hurray” and “hurrah”?
Both are established spellings of the same celebratory interjection. Hurrah can sometimes feel more traditional or old-fashioned, while hurray and hooray are familiar modern forms.
7. What should I say instead of “hooray” on a resume?
A resume generally should not use an exclamation such as hooray. Describe the achievement directly: successfully completed, achieved, earned, led, or received, depending on the accomplishment.
Key Takeaways
- Hurray and hurrah are the closest direct alternatives to hooray.
- Yay is a natural casual replacement, while woohoo is more energetic and playful.
- Congratulations celebrates an achievement rather than expressing general excitement.
- Bravo and well done focus on praise and approval, so they are contextual rather than exact synonyms.
- In formal writing, replace the exclamation with a precise statement that explains the positive event.
Conclusion:
The best synonym for hooray depends on the kind of emotion you want to express. If you need a close replacement, hurray, hurrah, and yay are strong choices. For casual excitement, woohoo, awesome, fantastic, and we did it can sound natural. When someone has achieved something, congratulations or well done is usually more precise. For performances, bravo may be the better choice.
Formal writing requires a different approach. Instead of forcing a formal synonym for hooray, it is often clearer to state the positive news directly with expressions such as we are delighted to announce, we are pleased to confirm, or this is a significant achievement. The goal is not simply to find a different word. It is to match the expression to the audience, situation, and level of enthusiasm. When a cheerful, informal celebration is exactly what you need, however, hooray remains a perfectly natural and expressive choice.
