Birthdays are celebrated in almost every culture, but the words people use to wish someone well can sound wonderfully different from one language to another. Learning how to say “happy birthday in different languages” is a simple way to make a birthday message more personal, memorable, and meaningful.
Whether you are writing a birthday card, sending a message to an international friend, creating a social media post, or simply exploring world languages, this guide gives you 70 happy birthday translations from around the world.
Below, you will find the native birthday phrase, an easy English pronunciation, a short real-life example, and the English meaning of each example.
Happy Birthday in Different Languages: 70 Translations
The following table answers the common question: How do you say happy birthday in different languages? Each phrase is commonly used as a birthday greeting, although some languages may have regional or formal variations.
| # | Language | Native Phrase | Easy English Pronunciation | Example Sentence | English Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | Happy birthday! | HAP-ee BURTH-day | Happy birthday, Sarah! | Happy birthday, Sarah! |
| 2 | Spanish | ¡Feliz cumpleaños! | feh-LEES koom-play-AHN-yos | ¡Feliz cumpleaños, Ana! | Happy birthday, Ana! |
| 3 | French | Joyeux anniversaire ! | zhwah-YUH ah-nee-ver-SAIR | Joyeux anniversaire, Marie ! | Happy birthday, Marie! |
| 4 | German | Alles Gute zum Geburtstag! | AH-less GOO-teh tsoom geh-BOORTS-tahk | Alles Gute zum Geburtstag, Anna! | Happy birthday, Anna! |
| 5 | Italian | Buon compleanno! | bwohn kom-pleh-AHN-noh | Buon compleanno, Marco! | Happy birthday, Marco! |
| 6 | Portuguese | Feliz aniversário! | feh-LEEZ ah-nee-ver-SAH-ree-oh | Feliz aniversário, João! | Happy birthday, João! |
| 7 | Dutch | Gefeliciteerd met je verjaardag! | khuh-feh-lee-see-TAIRT met yuh fer-YAHR-dakh | Gefeliciteerd met je verjaardag, Lisa! | Happy birthday, Lisa! |
| 8 | Swedish | Grattis på födelsedagen! | GRAHT-tis poh FUHR-dels-dah-gen | Grattis på födelsedagen, Erik! | Happy birthday, Erik! |
| 9 | Danish | Tillykke med fødselsdagen! | til-LUHK-uh meh FUHR-sels-dah-en | Tillykke med fødselsdagen, Emma! | Happy birthday, Emma! |
| 10 | Norwegian | Gratulerer med dagen! | grah-too-LEH-rer meh DAH-gen | Gratulerer med dagen, Lars! | Happy birthday, Lars! |
| 11 | Finnish | Hyvää syntymäpäivää! | HOO-vah SUHN-too-mah-pai-vah | Hyvää syntymäpäivää, Anna! | Happy birthday, Anna! |
| 12 | Icelandic | Til hamingju með afmælið! | til HAM-ing-yoo meth AV-my-lee | Til hamingju með afmælið, Jón! | Happy birthday, Jón! |
| 13 | Irish | Lá breithe shona duit! | law BREH-huh HUN-uh ditch | Lá breithe shona duit, Liam! | Happy birthday, Liam! |
| 14 | Welsh | Pen-blwydd hapus! | pen-BLOOTH HAP-is | Pen-blwydd hapus, Carys! | Happy birthday, Carys! |
| 15 | Scottish Gaelic | Co-là breith sona dhut! | koh-lah breh SON-uh ghut | Co-là breith sona dhut, Eilidh! | Happy birthday, Eilidh! |
| 16 | Polish | Wszystkiego najlepszego z okazji urodzin! | fshist-KYEH-goh nah-LEP-sheh-goh z oh-KAH-zhee oo-ROH-dzeen | Wszystkiego najlepszego, Kasia! | All the best on your birthday, Kasia! |
| 17 | Czech | Všechno nejlepší k narozeninám! | VSHETCH-noh NAY-lep-shee k nah-roh-ZEH-neen-ahm | Všechno nejlepší, Petr! | Happy birthday, Petr! |
| 18 | Slovak | Všetko najlepšie k narodeninám! | VSHET-koh NYE-lep-shee k nah-roh-DEH-nee-nahm | Všetko najlepšie, Lucia! | Happy birthday, Lucia! |
| 19 | Slovenian | Vse najboljše za rojstni dan! | vseh nahy-BOHL-sheh zah ROY-stnee dahn | Vse najboljše, Ana! | Happy birthday, Ana! |
| 20 | Croatian | Sretan rođendan! | SREH-tahn roh-JEN-dahn | Sretan rođendan, Ivana! | Happy birthday, Ivana! |
| 21 | Serbian | Srećan rođendan! | SREH-chahn roh-JEN-dahn | Srećan rođendan, Nikola! | Happy birthday, Nikola! |
| 22 | Bosnian | Sretan rođendan! | SREH-tahn roh-JEN-dahn | Sretan rođendan, Amina! | Happy birthday, Amina! |
| 23 | Bulgarian | Честит рожден ден! | chess-TEET ROHZH-den den | Честит рожден ден, Elena! | Happy birthday, Elena! |
| 24 | Macedonian | Среќен роденден! | SREH-kyen ROH-den-den | Среќен роденден, Marko! | Happy birthday, Marko! |
| 25 | Russian | С днём рождения! | s dnyom rozh-DEH-nee-yah | С днём рождения, Olga! | Happy birthday, Olga! |
| 26 | Ukrainian | З днем народження! | z dnem nah-ROHD-zhen-nyah | З днем народження, Oksana! | Happy birthday, Oksana! |
| 27 | Belarusian | З днём нараджэння! | z dnyom nah-RAHD-zhen-nyah | З днём нараджэння, Alena! | Happy birthday, Alena! |
| 28 | Lithuanian | Su gimtadieniu! | soo gim-tah-DYEH-nyoo | Su gimtadieniu, Rūta! | Happy birthday, Rūta! |
| 29 | Latvian | Daudz laimes dzimšanas dienā! | dowdz LIE-mes DZIM-shah-nas dee-NAH | Daudz laimes dzimšanas dienā, Laura! | Happy birthday, Laura! |
| 30 | Estonian | Palju õnne sünnipäevaks! | PAL-yoo UR-neh SUN-nee-pae-vaks | Palju õnne sünnipäevaks, Mari! | Happy birthday, Mari! |
| 31 | Hungarian | Boldog születésnapot! | BOL-dog SOO-leh-taysh-nah-pot | Boldog születésnapot, Éva! | Happy birthday, Éva! |
| 32 | Romanian | La mulți ani! | lah mults ahn | La mulți ani, Andrei! | Happy birthday, Andrei! |
| 33 | Albanian | Gëzuar ditëlindjen! | guh-ZOO-ar dee-tuh-LIND-yen | Gëzuar ditëlindjen, Arben! | Happy birthday, Arben! |
| 34 | Greek | Χρόνια πολλά! | HROH-nyah poh-LAH | Χρόνια πολλά, Eleni! | Many happy returns, Eleni! |
| 35 | Turkish | Doğum günün kutlu olsun! | doh-OOM goo-NOON KOOT-loo OL-soon | Doğum günün kutlu olsun, Ayşe! | Happy birthday, Ayşe! |
| 36 | Azerbaijani | Ad günün mübarək! | ahd goo-NOON moo-bah-REK | Ad günün mübarək, Leyla! | Happy birthday, Leyla! |
| 37 | Georgian | გილოცავ დაბადების დღეს! | gee-LOH-tsav dah-bah-DEH-bis dghes | გილოცავ დაბადების დღეს, Nino! | Happy birthday, Nino! |
| 38 | Armenian | Ծնունդդ շնորհավոր! | tsuh-NOONT shnor-ha-VOR | Ծնունդդ շնորհավոր, Ani! | Happy birthday, Ani! |
| 39 | Hebrew | יום הולדת שמח! | yom hoh-LEH-det sah-MEH-akh | יום הולדת שמח, David! | Happy birthday, David! |
| 40 | Arabic | عيد ميلاد سعيد! | EED mee-LAHD sah-EED | عيد ميلاد سعيد يا سارة! | Happy birthday, Sarah! |
| 41 | Persian | تولدت مبارک! | toh-LOH-det mob-AH-rak | تولدت مبارک، نازنین! | Happy birthday, Nazanin! |
| 42 | Urdu | سالگرہ مبارک! | saal-GIR-rah MUB-ah-rak | سالگرہ مبارک، علی! | Happy birthday, Ali! |
| 43 | Hindi | जन्मदिन मुबारक हो! | janm-deen moo-BAH-rak ho | जन्मदिन मुबारक हो, राहुल! | Happy birthday, Rahul! |
| 44 | Bengali | শুভ জন্মদিন! | shoo-bhoh jon-mo-deen | শুভ জন্মদিন, রিয়া! | Happy birthday, Riya! |
| 45 | Punjabi | ਜਨਮਦਿਨ ਮੁਬਾਰਕ! | janm-din moo-BAH-rak | ਜਨਮਦਿਨ ਮੁਬਾਰਕ, ਅਮਨ! | Happy birthday, Aman! |
| 46 | Gujarati | જન્મદિવસની શુભેચ્છા! | janm-dee-vus-nee shoo-BHECH-chha | જન્મદિવસની શુભેચ્છા, મીના! | Birthday wishes, Meena! |
| 47 | Marathi | वाढदिवसाच्या हार्दिक शुभेच्छा! | vaadh-dee-VAH-sah-chya HAHR-dik shoo-BHECH-chha | वाढदिवसाच्या हार्दिक शुभेच्छा, रोहन! | Heartfelt birthday wishes, Rohan! |
| 48 | Nepali | जन्मदिनको शुभकामना! | janm-dee-noh-koh shoo-bha-KAH-mah-na | जन्मदिनको शुभकामना, सुमन! | Birthday wishes, Suman! |
| 49 | Sinhala | සුභ උපන්දිනයක්! | soo-bha oo-PAN-dee-nyak | සුභ උපන්දිනයක්, නිමා! | Happy birthday, Nima! |
| 50 | Tamil | பிறந்தநாள் வாழ்த்துக்கள்! | pee-ran-tha-naal vaazh-thoo-kal | பிறந்தநாள் வாழ்த்துக்கள், அருண்! | Happy birthday, Arun! |
| 51 | Telugu | పుట్టినరోజు శుభాకాంక్షలు! | put-ti-na-ro-ju shoo-bha-KANK-sha-loo | పుట్టినరోజు శుభాకాంక్షలు, రవి! | Happy birthday, Ravi! |
| 52 | Kannada | ಹುಟ್ಟುಹಬ್ಬದ ಶುಭಾಶಯಗಳು! | hut-tu-hab-ba-da shoo-bha-SHA-ya-galoo | ಹುಟ್ಟುಹಬ್ಬದ ಶುಭಾಶಯಗಳು, ಅನಿಲ್! | Happy birthday, Anil! |
| 53 | Malayalam | ജന്മദിനാശംസകൾ! | jan-ma-dee-NAH-sham-sa-kal | ജന്മദിനാശംസകൾ, അനു! | Happy birthday, Anu! |
| 54 | Thai | สุขสันต์วันเกิด! | sook-san wan-geert | สุขสันต์วันเกิด, นิดา! | Happy birthday, Nida! |
| 55 | Vietnamese | Chúc mừng sinh nhật! | chook moong sing nyut | Chúc mừng sinh nhật, Lan! | Happy birthday, Lan! |
| 56 | Indonesian | Selamat ulang tahun! | seh-LAH-maht oo-LAHNG tah-HOON | Selamat ulang tahun, Budi! | Happy birthday, Budi! |
| 57 | Malay | Selamat hari jadi! | seh-LAH-maht HAH-ree JAH-dee | Selamat hari jadi, Aina! | Happy birthday, Aina! |
| 58 | Filipino | Maligayang kaarawan! | mah-lee-gah-YAHNG kah-ah-RAH-wahn | Maligayang kaarawan, Maria! | Happy birthday, Maria! |
| 59 | Javanese | Sugeng ambal warsa! | SOO-geng ahm-BAHL WAR-sah | Sugeng ambal warsa, Rina! | Happy birthday, Rina! |
| 60 | Chinese (Mandarin) | 生日快乐! | shung-ruh KWHY-luh | 生日快乐，丽丽！ | Happy birthday, Lili! |
| 61 | Japanese | お誕生日おめでとう！ | oh-tahn-joh-bee oh-meh-deh-toh | お誕生日おめでとう、さくら！ | Happy birthday, Sakura! |
| 62 | Korean | 생일 축하해요! | seng-il chook-ha-hae-yo | 생일 축하해요, 민수! | Happy birthday, Minsu! |
| 63 | Mongolian | Төрсөн өдрийн мэнд хүргэе! | tur-sun ur-deen mend hoor-GEH-yeh | Төрсөн өдрийн мэнд хүргэе, Бат! | Happy birthday, Bat! |
| 64 | Kazakh | Туған күніңмен! | too-GAHN koo-NING-men | Туған күніңмен, Алия! | Happy birthday, Aliya! |
| 65 | Uzbek | Tug‘ilgan kuningiz bilan! | too-GHEEL-gahn koo-NEENG-iz bee-LAHN | Tug‘ilgan kuningiz bilan, Dilnoza! | Happy birthday, Dilnoza! |
| 66 | Swahili | Heri ya siku ya kuzaliwa! | HEH-ree yah SEE-koo yah koo-zah-LEE-wah | Heri ya siku ya kuzaliwa, Asha! | Happy birthday, Asha! |
| 67 | Afrikaans | Gelukkige verjaardag! | khuh-LOOK-uh-khuh fer-YAHR-dahkh | Gelukkige verjaardag, Mia! | Happy birthday, Mia! |
| 68 | Zulu | Usuku lokuzalwa oluhle! | oo-SOO-koo loh-koo-ZAHL-wah OH-loo-leh | Usuku lokuzalwa oluhle, Thandi! | Have a wonderful birthday, Thandi! |
| 69 | Hawaiian | Hauʻoli lā hānau! | how-OH-lee lah HAH-now | Hauʻoli lā hānau, Leilani! | Happy birthday, Leilani! |
| 70 | Latin | Felix natalis! | FEH-licks nah-TAH-lis | Felix natalis, Julia! | Happy birthday, Julia! |
How to Say Happy Birthday in Different Languages
The easiest way to use these happy birthday translations is to choose the language connected to the person you are celebrating.
For example, you could write “Feliz cumpleaños!” for a Spanish-speaking friend, “Joyeux anniversaire!” for a French-speaking friend, or “生日快乐!” for a Mandarin-speaking friend.
A native birthday greeting can make an ordinary message feel much more thoughtful. Even if you do not speak the language fluently, learning one short phrase shows that you made an effort.
Happy Birthday in All Languages: What Makes Each Greeting Special?
Birthday greetings often reflect the culture and structure of a language.
Some languages use a direct equivalent of “happy birthday.” Others use expressions closer to “many happy years,” “birthday wishes,” or “may your birthday be joyful.”
For example, the Greek expression Χρόνια πολλά literally conveys the idea of “many years,” while Romanian La mulți ani is also commonly associated with wishing someone many happy years.
This is why translating a birthday greeting word-for-word does not always capture the way native speakers naturally express the sentiment.
How to Choose the Right Birthday Translation
When choosing a phrase, consider who you are sending it to.
For a close friend
Use the familiar form that native speakers commonly use with friends and family. A short phrase can sound warm and natural without being overly formal.
For a family member
You can combine the birthday greeting with a personal wish, such as wishing them happiness, health, success, or a wonderful year ahead.
For a colleague
A simple and polite birthday greeting is usually best. If you are unsure about the appropriate level of formality, choose the standard greeting shown in the table.
For a social media post
Short phrases work especially well. You can write the birthday greeting in the person’s native language and add an English message underneath.
Happy Birthday Around the World
Birthdays are celebrated differently around the world, but the basic purpose is remarkably similar: people come together to show appreciation and wish someone well.
In many cultures, birthday celebrations include family gatherings, special meals, cakes, gifts, music, or traditional blessings. The exact customs vary, but a sincere birthday greeting remains one of the simplest ways to make someone feel remembered.
Learning happy birthday in different languages can therefore be more than a language exercise. It can help you connect with people from different countries and cultures.
Tips for Pronouncing Birthday Greetings
Pronunciation can seem difficult when you first encounter an unfamiliar language. You do not need perfect pronunciation to make your greeting meaningful.
Start by saying the phrase slowly. Break longer words into smaller parts and listen carefully to how native speakers pronounce them when possible.
The pronunciation column above provides an easy English approximation rather than a formal phonetic transcription. Some sounds cannot be represented perfectly using English spelling, so treat the pronunciation guide as a helpful starting point.
Why Learn Birthday Greetings in Other Languages?
Learning a birthday greeting has several practical benefits:
- It helps you communicate with international friends and family.
- It makes birthday cards and messages more personal.
- It introduces you to useful vocabulary in another language.
- It can make cultural celebrations more meaningful.
- It is an easy way to start learning a new language.
- It gives you a thoughtful phrase to use when traveling or meeting people from other countries.
Even one sentence in someone’s native language can make a birthday wish feel more special.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is “happy birthday” in the most common languages?
“Happy birthday” has different forms in languages such as English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Arabic, Hindi, Urdu, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and many others. The table above provides 70 commonly used birthday greetings.
2. How do you say “happy birthday” in different languages?
You can use the native birthday phrases listed in the 70-language table above. For example, Spanish uses ¡Feliz cumpleaños!, French uses Joyeux anniversaire !, German uses Alles Gute zum Geburtstag!, and Japanese uses お誕生日おめでとう！.
3. What is the easiest language in which to say happy birthday?
There is no single easiest language because pronunciation depends on your native language. Short phrases such as the Spanish ¡Feliz cumpleaños!, Italian Buon compleanno!, or Indonesian Selamat ulang tahun! can be useful starting points for many English speakers.
4. Can I use these birthday translations in a card or message?
Yes. These greetings can be used in birthday cards, text messages, social media posts, emails, and personal conversations. For a more meaningful message, combine the native birthday greeting with a personal birthday wish.
5. Why are birthday greetings different from one language to another?
Languages express the same idea in different cultural and grammatical ways. Some greetings directly mean “happy birthday,” while others express wishes for many years, good fortune, or happiness. A natural translation focuses on the meaning and normal usage rather than translating every word literally.
Conclusion
Knowing how to say happy birthday in different languages is a simple but meaningful way to celebrate people around the world. From Feliz cumpleaños in Spanish to 生日快乐 in Mandarin and お誕生日おめでとう in Japanese, every language offers its own beautiful way to share good wishes.
Use this collection of 70 happy birthday translations to create thoughtful cards, messages, greetings, and social media posts. A few words in someone’s native language can turn a simple birthday wish into a memorable celebration.
I am Ava Jones, a language enthusiast and author passionate about exploring different languages, sharing useful phrases, explaining meanings, and helping readers communicate confidently across cultures and countries.
