Want to know how to say Happy Birthday in 50 languages? Whether you are writing a full-blown speech or just want to drop by and express your warm greetings, there is nothing more exciting and challenging than saying happy birthday in different languages. This simple greeting is truly powerful, and it is a safe one to say no matter what type of culture a particular country has. To expand your vocabulary, we will walk you through different ways on how to express it with style! If you are up for that, then let’s get right into it.
Ah! The power of these two words. Happy Birthday. It may sound like an ordinary greeting, but it does carry a great deal of weight for many. Ever wondered how to say happy birthday in a language different from your own?
One’s birthday is essential not only in the sense that it reminds us that we are aging but for the reason that it reminds us to celebrate life. No matter what country you are in, celebrating birthdays has always been a big part of our traditions. In fact, some countries have developed exciting ways to celebrate this special day.
For instance, Asian countries like China and the Philippines have always made it a point to serve noodle dishes to symbolize a long and healthy life. In Italy, the celebrants open the gifts immediately after receiving them as it is rude to set them aside and open them at a later time. Here are some other birthday traditions from around the world:
- Quinceañera – this is a special lavish birthday celebrated once a girl turns 15 in Latin America.
- Nose greasing – in Canada, birthday celebrants will have their nose greased with butter because it is believed to ward off bad luck.
- Ear pulling – in Spain, people usually pull your ear as it is believed to be some sort of luck!
- New Year – in Vietnam, people do not celebrate individual birthdays, but they do the actual celebration together as a nation on the Vietnamese New Year!
- In Germany, it is bad luck to say alles gute zum geburtstag or wishes someone a happy birthday before the date of their actual birthday!
Happy Birthday In 50 Languages
Have you ever heard someone say shēngrì kuàilè (I wish you a happy birthday), Siku ya kuzaliwa, or maligayang kaarawan (a delighted birthday) and wondered what the heck it means? Is it some type of tradition or a spell? Well, worry no more because those are just some of the ways to wish someone a happy birthday. Apart from saying the basics like hello, good day, or sorry, knowing how to greet someone on special occasions can be deemed as essential if you are seriously learning a new language.
Below are our top ways by which you can wish someone a happy birthday in many languages.
Language | Happy Birthday | Pronunciation Guide |
Albanian | Gëzuar ditëlindjen | Gëzuar ditëlindjen |
Arabic | عيد مولد سعيد | Eyd Mawlid Saeid |
Bosnian | Srećan rođendan! | Sretan rođendan |
Bulgarian | Честит Рожден ден | Chestit Rozhden den |
Catalan | Feliç aniversari | Feliç aniversari |
Chinese | 生日快乐 | Shēngrì kuàilè |
Czech | Všechno nejlepší k narozeninám | Všechno nejlepší k narozeninám |
Danish | Tillykke med fødselsdagen | Tillykke med fødselsdagen |
Dutch | Fijne verjaardag | Fijne verjaardag |
Filipino | Maligayang kaarawan | Maligayang kaarawan |
Finnish | Hyvää syntymäpäivää | Hyvää syntymäpäivää |
French | Bon anniversaire / joyeux anniversaire | Bon anniversaire / joyeux anniversaire |
Galician | Feliz Aniversario | Feliz Aniversario |
Greek | Χαρούμενα γενέθλια | Charoúmena genéthlia |
German | Alles Gute zum Geburtstag | Alles Gute zum Geburtstag |
Hawaiian | Hauʻoli lā hānau | Hauʻoli lā hānau |
Hebrew | ום הולדת שמח | huledet sameach |
Hungarian | Boldog születésnapot | Boldog születésnapot |
Icelandic | til hamingju með afmælið | til hamingju með afmælið |
Igbo | Ezi ncheta ọmụmụ | Ezi ncheta ọmụmụ |
Indonesian | Selamat ulang tahun | Selamat ulang tahun |
Irish | Lá breithe shona duit | Lá breithe shona duit |
Italian | Buon compleanno | Buon compleanno |
Japanese | お誕生日おめでとうございます | Tanjōbiomedetō |
Kazakh | twğan küniñ quttı bolsın | twğan küniñ quttı bolsın |
Khmer | Rikreay thngai kamnaet | Rikreay thngai kamnaet |
Korean | 생일 축하 | Saeng-il chugha |
Kurdish | Rojbûna te pîroz be | Rojbûna te pîroz be |
Latin | Felix natalis | Felix natalis |
Lithuanian | Su gimtadieniu | Su gimtadieniu |
Luxembourgish | Alles Guddes fir däi Gebuertsdag | Alles Guddes fir däi Gebuertsdag |
Malay | Selamat Hari lahir | Selamat Hari lahir |
Mongolian | Төрсөн өдрийн мэнд | Törsön ödriin mend |
Nepali | Janmadinakō | Janmadinakō |
Norwegian | Gratulerer med dagen | Gratulerer med dagen |
Polish | Wszystkiego najlepszego z okazji | Wszystkiego najlepszego z okazji |
Portuguese | Feliz Aniversário | Feliz Aniversário |
Romanian | La multi ani | La multi ani |
Russian | с днем рождения | s dnem rozhdeniya |
Slovenian | Vse najboljše | Vse najboljše |
Somali | Dhalasho Wacan | Dhalasho Wacan |
Spanish | Feliz cumpleaños | Feliz cumpleaños |
Swahili | Siku ya kuzaliwa ya furaha | Siku ya kuzaliwa ya furaha |
Swedish | Grattis på födelsedagen | Grattis på födelsedagen |
Telugu | పుట్తిన రోజు శుభాకాంక్షలు | Puttina roju subhakankshalu |
Thai | สุขสันต์วันเกิด | S̄uk̄hs̄ạnt̒ wạn keid |
Turkish | Doğum günün kutlu olsun | Doğum günün kutlu olsun |
Ukrainian | Z Dnem narodzhennya | Z Dnem narodzhennya |
Vietnamese | Chúc mừng sinh nhật | Chúc mừng sinh nhật |
Welsh | Penblwydd hapus | Penblwydd hapus |
Zulu | Usuku olumnandi lokuzalwa | Usuku olumnandi lokuzalwa |
And there you have it, our 50 ways on how to spread birthday wishes in different languages. Are you ready to greet someone and surprise them by using their native language? Try it out today and say a happy birthday with style!
If you enjoyed this post, we bet you will enjoy all our other language-related posts that will surely keep you on your toes as you learn about different languages. Be sure to check out our most recent posts, like how to say I Love You in 50 languages, the best languages to learn in 2021, and how to say goodbye in 100 languages! Also, feel free to share it on social media so that your friends can get updated on our newest language posts!
Learn Different Languages Today With Ling App!
Now that you know how to say happy birthday in different languages, I bet you are wondering how you can learn and master any of these, right? Luckily for you, all the languages are pretty easy to acquire now by simply using free language applications. Our most recommended one is Ling App, a unique language learning app made by Simya Solutions.
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However, if you are someone who is more interested in speaking the language right away, then worry no more because Simya SOlutions also created the Simply Learn phrasebook. This excellent app comes with many categories that you can use depending on the situation you are in- may it be during an emergency, conversation starters, or even asking directions! All these and more in the app today!
So, what are you waiting for? Bring out your mobile device and download these apps today!