Wishing someone a happy birthday in their native language adds a thoughtful, personal touch to your greeting.
This quick guide covers birthday wishes across 50 languages, helping you celebrate with friends and family worldwide.
Popular European Birthday Wishes
- French: “Joyeux anniversaire!”
- Spanish: “¡Feliz cumpleaños!”
- German: “Alles Gute zum Geburtstag!”
- Italian: “Buon compleanno!”
- Portuguese: “Feliz aniversário!”
Asian Birthday Greetings
- Mandarin Chinese: “生日快乐” (Shēngrì kuàilè)
- Japanese: “お誕生日おめでとう” (Otanjōbi omedetō)
- Korean: “생일 축하합니다” (Saeng-il chukha-hamnida)
- Vietnamese: “Chúc mừng sinh nhật!”
- Thai: “สุขสันต์วันเกิด” (Suk san wan kerd)
Middle Eastern Birthday Wishes
- Arabic: “عيد ميلاد سعيد” (Eid milad saeid)
- Hebrew: “יום הולדת שמח” (Yom huledet sameach)
- Turkish: “İyi ki doğdun!”
- Persian: “تولدت مبارک” (Tavallodat mobarak)
Tips for Using Birthday Wishes in Different Languages
- Check the pronunciation using language learning apps or online audio guides
- Write the greeting in both the native script and romanized version
- Include the translation when sending the message
- Consider regional variations of the language
Additional Birthday Customs to Remember
- Some cultures celebrate name days instead of birthdays
- Birthday celebrations vary significantly across cultures
- Consider time zones when sending international birthday wishes
Learning these birthday greetings shows cultural appreciation and makes celebrations more meaningful.
| Language | Pronunciation Guide | Literal Translation |
|---|---|---|
| French | zhwah-yuh ah-nee-vehr-sehr | Happy Birthday |
| Spanish | feh-leez koom-pleh-ah-nyos | Happy Birthday |
| German | al-les goo-teh tsoom ge-boorts-tahg | All good wishes for birthday |
Remember to respect cultural sensitivities when using these birthday greetings.
Cultural Birthday Etiquette
- Research appropriate gift-giving customs
- Be aware of age-specific celebrations
- Understand cultural taboos around birthdays
- Learn traditional birthday songs if applicable
Digital Birthday Greetings
- Use appropriate emojis for different cultures
- Consider time zones when scheduling digital messages
- Include both text and audio pronunciations when possible
- Use language-specific keyboards or copying tools
Social Media Birthday Wishes
- Tag appropriately using native language hashtags
- Include multilingual captions for international friends
- Use platform-specific birthday stickers and GIFs
Birthday Traditions Worldwide
- Mexico: La Mordida – face in the cake tradition
- China: Longevity noodles for long life
- Denmark: Surprise flag decoration
- India: Birthday person feeds cake to others first
Modern technology makes it easier than ever to send culturally appropriate birthday wishes across borders. Whether through social media, messaging apps, or traditional cards, taking the time to learn birthday greetings in different languages shows thoughtfulness and cultural respect. Remember that pronunciation and timing are key factors in making your birthday wish meaningful and appreciated.
FAQs
- What are some common birthday greetings in widely spoken languages?
English: Happy Birthday!
Spanish: ¡Feliz Cumpleaños!
Mandarin Chinese: 生日快乐 (Shēngrì kuàilè)
Hindi: जन्मदिन मुबारक (Janmdin mubarak)
Arabic: عيد ميلاد سعيد (Eid milad saeid) - How do you write “Happy Birthday” in Japanese and Korean?
Japanese: お誕生日おめでとう (Otanjōbi omedetō)
Korean: 생일 축하합니다 (Saeng-il chukha hamnida) - What are some European birthday greetings?
French: Joyeux Anniversaire
German: Alles Gute zum Geburtstag
Italian: Buon Compleanno
Portuguese: Feliz Aniversário
Dutch: Gefeliciteerd met je verjaardag - How do Nordic countries say “Happy Birthday”?
Swedish: Grattis på födelsedagen
Danish: Tillykke med fødselsdagen
Norwegian: Gratulerer med dagen
Finnish: Hyvää syntymäpäivää
Icelandic: Til hamingju með afmælið - What are some unique birthday traditions in different cultures?
Germany: Birthday children receive a wreath of candles
Mexico: La Mordida (face pushed into cake)
China: Eating longevity noodles
Netherlands: Birthday calendar in bathroom
Denmark: Surprise flag decoration - How do you say “Happy Birthday” in Slavic languages?
Russian: С днем рождения (S dnem rozhdeniya)
Polish: Wszystkiego najlepszego
Czech: Všechno nejlepší k narozeninám
Ukrainian: З днем народження (Z dnem narodzhennya) - What are some Southeast Asian birthday greetings?
Thai: สุขสันต์วันเกิด (Suk san wan gerd)
Vietnamese: Chúc mừng sinh nhật
Indonesian: Selamat ulang tahun
Malaysian: Selamat hari jadi - How is “Happy Birthday” expressed in African languages?
Swahili: Siku ya kuzaliwa ya furaha
Zulu: Usuku olumnandi lokuzalwa
Yoruba: Eku ojo ibi
Afrikaans: Gelukkige verjaarsdag - What are some Middle Eastern birthday greetings?
Turkish: Doğum günün kutlu olsun
Persian: تولدت مبارک (Tavallodat mobarak)
Hebrew: יום הולדת שמח (Yom huledet sameach)
Kurdish: Rojbûna te pîroz be - Which South Asian languages have unique birthday wishes?
Bengali: শুভ জন্মদিন (Shuvo jonmodin)
Tamil: பிறந்த நாள் வாழ்த்துக்கள் (Pirantha naal vazhthukkal)
Urdu: سالگرہ مبارک (Saalgira mubarak)
Nepali: जन्मदिनको शुभकामना (Janmadinko subhakamana)
