Here’s How to Say ‘Happy Birthday!’ in 37 Different Languages

One of the most recognised tunes is the tune for the happy birthday song! While the song originated in America in the 19th century, today, all around the world, you can recognise the tune and hum along even if the words are in a language you don’t understand.

Birthdays are such an important celebration in so many cultures and being able to wish someone a happy birthday in their native tongue is something very special. You never know when it might come in handy!

Whether you want to be prepared for the next trip you take, or you’d like to know what to write in a birthday card to an old exchange student from a semester study abroad, knowing how to say happy birthday in a foreign language is a really lovely gesture. We’ve gathered a list of how to say happy birthday in 37 different languages that you can keep on hand the next time you travel.

Happy Birthday in Spanish

Feliz cumpleaños

Happy Birthday in French

Joyeux anniversaire or bon anniversaire

Happy Birthday in German

Alles Gute zum Geburtstag

Happy Birthday in Italian

Buon Compleanno

Happy Birthday in Russian

С Днем рожденья

Happy Birthday in Japanese

お誕生日おめでとう (o-tanjoubi omedetou)

Happy Birthday in Hawaiian

Hauʻoli Lā Hānau

Happy Birthday in Korean

생일 축하 해요 (saeng-il chugha haeyo)

Happy Birthday in Chinese

‘生日快乐’ (shēng rì kuài lè)

Happy Birthday in Portuguese

Feliz Aniversário!

Happy Birthday in Hebrew

יום הולדת שמח (yom huledet sameach)

Happy Birthday in Polish

‘Wszystkiego najlepszego’ or for less formal ‘Sto lat’

Happy Birthday in Greek

Χρόνια πολλά

Happy Birthday in Arabic

عيد مولد سعيد (Eyd Mawlid Saeid)

Happy Birthday in Tagalog

Maligayang kaarawan

Happy Birthday in Dutch

Fijne verjaardag

Happy Birthday in Mandarin

生日快乐 (shēng rì kuài lè)

Happy Birthday in Swedish

grattis på födelsedagen

Happy Birthday in Norwegian

Gratulerer med dagen

Happy Birthday in Vietnamese

Chúc mừng sinh nhật

Happy Birthday in Latin

Felix sit natalis dies

Happy Birthday in Thai

สุขสันต์วันเกิด (S̄uk̄hs̄ạnt̒ wạn keid)

Happy Birthday in Irish

Lá breithe shona duit

Happy Birthday in Turkish

Doğum günün kutlu olsun

Happy Birthday in Swahili

Sikukuu ya kuzaliwa

Happy Birthday in Hindi

जन्मदिन मुबारक हो (janmdin mubaarak ho)

Happy Birthday in Gaelic

Lá breithe shona duit

Happy Birthday in Klingon

qoSlIj DatIvjaj

Happy Birthday in Danish

Tillykke med fødselsdagen

Happy Birthday in Cantonese

生日快樂

Happy Birthday in Finnish

hyvää syntymäpäivää

Happy Birthday in Ukrainian

З Днем народження

Happy Birthday in Navajo

Baa Hózhǫ́ǫgo Nidizhchí

Happy Birthday in Czech

Všechno nejlepší k narozeninám

Happy Birthday in Yiddish

א פריילעכן געבורצטאג (a freylekhn geburstag)

Happy Birthday in Hungarian

Boldog születésnapot

Happy Birthday in Samoan

Manuia le aso fanau

Happy Birthday in Croatian

Sretan rođendan

A simple happy birthday can go a long way. Even if you struggle to pronounce the birthday wishes, you might just make someone’s day when you are able to say happy birthday in their very own language.