Celebrating a coworker’s birthday isn’t just about the cake and balloons. It’s about making them feel appreciated and included, especially in our increasingly global and diverse workplaces. If you want to give your international colleagues a pleasant surprise on their special day, saying “Happy Birthday” in their native language can be a thoughtful gesture. Not only does it show cultural appreciation, but it can also strengthen your work relationships. So, here’s a linguistic gift from us to you: how to wish Happy Birthday in 25 different languages.
1. English: Happy Birthday!
Pronunciation: /ˈhæpi ˈbɜːrθ.deɪ/
Notes: Universally understood and used in English-speaking countries.
2. Spanish: ¡Feliz cumpleaños!
Pronunciation: /feh-LEEZ koom-pleh-AH-nyos/
Notes: Be sure to stress the ñ, as it’s a distinct sound in Spanish, not found in English.
3. French: Joyeux anniversaire!
Pronunciation: /zhwah-YEUX ah-nee-vair-SAIR/
Notes: The ‘j’ in French is soft, like the ‘s’ in ‘measure’.
4. German: Alles Gute zum Geburtstag!
Pronunciation: /AHL-les GOO-teh tsoom guh-BUHRT-stahg/
Notes: The ‘z’ in ‘zum’ is pronounced like ‘ts’ in ‘cats’.
5. Italian: Buon compleanno!
Pronunciation: /bwon kom-PLE-ahn-no/
Notes: Italian ‘c’ before ‘e’ or ‘i’ is like the English ‘ch’.
6. Portuguese: Feliz aniversário!
Pronunciation: /feh-LEEZ ah-nee-ver-SAH-ree-o/
Notes: The ‘s’ in ‘Feliz’ sounds like ‘z’, but in ‘aniversário’, it’s like ‘s’.
7. Russian: С днём рождения! (S dnem rozhdeniya!)
Pronunciation: /s DNYOM rozhd-en-EE-ya/
Notes: The ‘ё’ is pronounced like ‘yo’ in ‘yogurt’.
8. Dutch: Gefeliciteerd met je verjaardag!
Pronunciation: /ghe-feh-lih-si-TEERT met ye fer-YAHR-dagh/
Notes: The Dutch ‘g’ is a guttural sound, like clearing your throat.
9. Mandarin Chinese: 生日快乐！(Shēngrì kuàilè!)
Pronunciation: /sheng-rì kwai-luh/
Notes: Mandarin is a tonal language, so try to mimic the tones for correct pronunciation.
10. Japanese: お誕生日おめでとうございます！(Otanjōbi omedetō gozaimasu!)
Pronunciation: /o-tan-joh-bee o-me-de-toh go-za-i-mas/
Notes: Spoken with a polite ending, suitable for colleagues.
11. Korean: 생일 축하합니다! (Saeng-il chukha-hamnida!)
Pronunciation: /sang-il chook-ha-ham-nee-da/
Notes: This is a formal phrase appropriate for most situations.
12. Arabic: عيد ميلاد سعيد! (Eid milad saeed!)
Pronunciation: /eed mee-lad sa-eed/
Notes: Arabic pronunciation can vary by region, but this is understood across the Arabic-speaking world.
13. Turkish: İyi ki doğdun!
Pronunciation: /ee-yee kee doh-OON/
Notes: It literally means ‘Good that you were born’ and is a warm way to say happy birthday.
14. Hindi: जन्मदिन मुबारक हो! (Janmadin mubarak ho!)
Pronunciation: /janm-deen moo-bar-ak ho/
Notes: This can be used in all Hindi speaking regions and is quite formal.
15. Bengali: শুভ জন্মদিন! (Shubho jonmodin!)
Pronunciation: /shoo-bho jon-mo-deen/
Notes: Bengali has a distinctive set of sounds; ‘sh’ is particularly soft.
16. Greek: Χαρούμενα γενέθλια! (Charoúmena genéthlia!)
Pronunciation: /ha-ROO-meh-na yeh-NETH-lee-a/
Notes: The ‘ch’ is a soft, breathy sound, not hard like in ‘chair’.
17. Hebrew: יום הולדת שמח! (Yom huledet sameach!)
Pronunciation: /yom hoo-LEH-det sa-ME-ach/
Notes: The ‘ch’ in ‘sameach’ is like the Scottish ‘loch’.
18. Polish: Wszystkiego najlepszego z okazji urodzin!
Pronunciation: /vshyst-KEE-go nai-LEP-she-go z oh-KAZ-yee oo-ROD-zeen/
Notes: Polish pronunciation is quite phonetic but watch out for the consonant clusters.
19. Swedish: Grattis på födelsedagen!
Pronunciation: /GRAT-tis paw FUR-del-seh-DAH-gen/
Notes: The ‘r’ is rolled in Swedish, and ‘ä’ is like ‘ai’ in ‘fair’.
20. Finnish: Hyvää syntymäpäivää!
Pronunciation: /HU-vaa SÜN-tü-mä-PAI-vaa/
Notes: Double letters in Finnish are pronounced longer.
21. Danish: Tillykke med fødselsdagen!
Pronunciation: /til-LOO-keh meth FUHR-sels-DAH-en/
Notes: The ‘d’ in ‘med’ and ‘dag’ is soft, almost like a ‘th’ in English.
22. Norwegian: Gratulerer med dagen!
Pronunciation: /GRA-tu-le-rer meh DAH-gen/
Notes: The ‘g’ at the end is soft, almost silent.
23. Thai: สุขสันต์วันเกิด! (Suk san wan gert!)
Pronunciation: /sook SAHN wahn gerd/
Notes: Thai is also tonal, and the consonants at the end of words are often not fully pronounced.
24. Vietnamese: Chúc mừng sinh nhật!
Pronunciation: /chook moong seen nyaht/
Notes: Vietnamese has a complex system of tones and diacritical marks that affect pronunciation.
25. Filipino: Maligayang kaarawan!
Pronunciation: /ma-li-ga-yang ka-a-ra-wan/
Notes: Emphasis is on the second syllable of ‘maligayang’ and on the second to last syllable of ‘kaarawan’.
Remember, the key is to say it with sincerity. Your effort to speak a colleague’s language, even if it’s just a birthday wish, can make their day truly memorable.
Tips for Multilingual Birthday Celebrations at Work
- Learn the pronunciation: A mispronounced phrase can sometimes cause confusion or amusement. Use online resources to hear the correct pronunciation.
- Write it down: Accompany your spoken wish with a written note or an email.
- Add a cultural touch: Learn about any unique birthday customs in your coworker’s culture and incorporate them if appropriate.
Birthdays are a fantastic way to show your coworkers that you care. Taking the time to learn how to wish them well in their native language is a wonderful way to foster inclusivity and show respect for their culture.
Conclusion
In our global workplaces, cultural sensitivity and appreciation can go a long way. We hope this guide helps you bring a smile to your coworkers’ faces and make their birthdays even more special.
Happy global celebrating!
References and External Links
- How to say Happy Birthday in multiple languages – Omniglot
- Pronunciation guide for Happy Birthday wishes – Forvo
Tags and Categories
Tags: #HappyBirthday, #MulticulturalWorkplace, #LanguageLearning, #CoworkerAppreciation, #DiversityInclusion
Categories: Professional Development, Language Learning, Workplace Culture