How to Say “Happy Birthday” in Spanish
Birthdays in Spain and many Latin American countries that speak Spanish are a big deal. In Latin America and the Spanish-speaking Caribbean, birthdays entail big celebrations, and the fifteenth birthday for girls (quinceañera) is often described as a wedding without the groom. In Spain, many people celebrate twice…once on their actual birth date (cumpleaños), and once on their saint’s day (Día del Santo), doubling the birthday fun.
In this article, we’ll discuss the origin of these birthday traditions and list the most popular ways to celebrate someone’s birthday using the Spanish language.
Roots Behind Spanish Birthday Traditions
Spanish traditions (including birthdays) are rooted in the Catholic church. Many Spaniards are either named after a Catholic church saint, or they choose one during their Confirmation in the Catholic faith. Known traditionally as the onomástico (in Spanish, literally “name day”), these special days are often celebrated as another birthday.
More commonly called Día del Santo (“Saints Day”), this event is often celebrated with a favorite meal, meaningful time with friends & family, and even a few presents. And because many people can be named after the same saint, these parties often include dozens of family members or friends celebrating the same “name day.” While not as celebratory as an actual birthday, Día del Santo still holds a revered place in Spanish culture for many families. All the gifts, celebrating, and recognition without even aging another year? Spain certainly knows how to celebrate the gift that is you!
Common Ways to Say “Happy Birthday” in Spanish
If you’re planning to visit a Spanish-speaking country, it’s a good idea to learn how to say happy birthday in the Spanish language – after all, if you’re in Spain, you might have to offer birthday wishes in Spanish twice!
The following list includes the most accepted ways to express happy birthday wishes in Spanish.
- ¡Feliz Cumpleaños! – Happy birthday. The best, universal way to offer birthday wishes in Spanish
- ¡Feliz Cumple! – This is simply an abbreviated version of “happy birthday” that is commonly spoken or written in text messages. It’s quite casual though, so you won’t find it in an email from a colleague.
- ¡Que cumplas muchos más! – Literally, “May you complete many more!”
- ¡Que tengas muchos más! – Literally, “May you have many more!” Both of these are similar to the sentiment in English, “and many more to come!”
- Te deseo todo lo mejor en tu cumpleaños. – I wish you all the best on your birthday.
- ¡Muchas felicidades! – Congratulations! Although English speakers don’t typically say “congratulations” for a birthday, it’s a common refrain in Spanish-speaking countries.
- Feliz cumpleaños, mi amor. – Happy birthday, my love.
- Feliz cumpleaños, mi amigo. – Happy birthday, my friend.
- ¡Espero que todos tus deseos de cumpleaños se cumplan! – I hope all your birthday wishes come true!
- ¡Que tengas un cumpleaños maravilloso! – Have a wonderful birthday!
- Te deseo muchas más velitas para soplar. – I wish you many more candles to blow out.
Other Birthday Wishes in Spanish & Related Phrases
From formal to informal to slang, here are some other expressions related to saying “happy birthday” Spanish:
- ¡Feliz cumpleaños atrasado! – Happy belated birthday!
- ¿Qué vas a hacer en tu cumpleaños? – What are you going to do on your birthday?
- ¿Qué quieres para tu cumpleaños? – What do you want for your birthday?
- Voy a hacer una fiesta. – I’m going to have a party.
- ¿Cuándo es tu cumpleaños? – When is your birthday?
- ¿Cuántos años cumples? – How old are you turning? (Careful with this one; not everyone likes to be reminded of their age!)
- Un verdadero amigo se acuerda de tu cumpleaños pero no de tu edad. – A true friend remembers your birthday but not your age. (Classic Spanish idiom.)
- ¿Mayor? Definitivamente. ¿Más sabio? Discutible. ¡Feliz Cumpleaños! – Older? Definitely. Wiser? Debatable. Happy Birthday!
Want to release your inner songbird and sing happy birthday in the Spanish language? Here’s a popular birthday song in Spanish, often performed during actual birthdays and for Día del Santo.
¡Cumpleaños feliz!, ¡Cumpleaños feliz!
¡Te deseamos todos, cumpleaños feliz!
Happy birthday, Happy birthday!
From all of us, we wish you a happy birthday!
Mastering Birthday Greetings in Spanish
Birthdays are a reason for celebration in Spain and other Spanish-speaking countries. Now that you’re able to say happy birthday in Spanish, perhaps it’s time to expand your knowledge and celebrate a personal learning goal you’ve been thinking about – learning to speak Spanish!
Fortunately, Pimsleur’s innovative courses and lessons are the perfect way to express happy birthday phrases in Spanish and tons of other Spanish sayings! We offer both Castilian and Latin American Spanish, each with its own unique vocabulary, pronunciation, pace, and cadence.
Interested in learning both dialects? There is a lot of overlap between the two, making learning them together easier than you think! Learning Latin American Spanish and Castilian, each with their own unique flavors, will improve your cultural literacy, enhance travel experiences, and give you the ability to converse conversationally with Spanish speakers all over the world. Get started today!