Whether you've moved to a Spanish-speaking country, are traveling through Latin America, or simply have a birthday celebration with your Spanish class or Spanish-speaking friend, knowing the proper happy birthday song and birthday wishes in Spanish will make the occasion even more meaningful.
This article will teach you how to wish someone a happy birthday in Spanish in 30 ways. Also, you'll learn popular Spanish phrases on how to respond to birthday wishes. Finally, I'll share the classic birthday song used in Spanish and Latin American cultures.
The Spanish version of saying Happy Birthday. It's the most common thing to wish on someone's birthday in Spain and Latin American countries.
Example: ¡Feliz cumpleaños! Que todos tus deseos se hagan realidad. (Happy Birthday! May all your wishes come true.)
A traditional Spanish birthday phrase when you want to wish longevity.
Example: ¡Que cumplas muchos más, llenos de salud y felicidad! (May you have many more, filled with health and happiness!)
This is how native Spanish speakers wish for someone to have a special day.
Example: ¡Que tengas un día especial, rodeado de tus seres queridos! (Have a special day, surrounded by your loved ones!)
Another common phrase used on birthdays among Spanish speakers.
Example: ¡Felicidades en tu día! Disfruta cada momento. (Congratulations on your day! Enjoy every moment.)
A general congratulatory Happy Birthday wish in Spanish.
Example: ¡Muchas felicidades en tu cumpleaños y siempre! (Many congratulations on your birthday and always!)
When you wish a person celebrating their birthday for their dreams to come true.
Example: ¡Que todos tus sueños se cumplan este nuevo año de vida! (May all your dreams come true this new year of life!)
Wish a happy birthday with emphasis for them to enjoy their special day.
Example: ¡Disfruta tu día al máximo, te lo mereces! (Enjoy your day to the fullest, you deserve it!)
When you want to emphasize the birthday celebrant is getting wiser.
Example: ¡Feliz cumpleaños, un año más sabio y lleno de nuevas oportunidades! (Happy birthday, another year wiser and full of new opportunities!)
A way to wish someone general well-being.
Example: En tu cumpleaños, te deseamos salud, amor y felicidad. (On your birthday, we wish you health, love, and happiness.)
A wish for a joyful day.
Example: ¡Espero que tu día esté lleno de alegría y sorpresas agradables! (I hope your day is full of joy and pleasant surprises!)
Celebrating another year of life.
Example: ¡Brindemos por un año más de vida, experiencias y recuerdos! (Let's toast to another year of life, experiences, and memories!)
A wish for success in the coming year.
Example: ¡Que este año te traiga éxito en todos tus proyectos! (May this year bring you success in all your projects!)
A wish for perpetual happiness.
Example: ¡Que la alegría te acompañe siempre, especialmente hoy en tu cumpleaños! (May joy always accompany you, especially today on your birthday!)
Looking forward to new experiences.
Example: ¡Feliz cumpleaños, un año más de aventuras te espera! (Happy Birthday, another year of adventures awaits you!)
A wish for lifelong happiness.
Example: ¡Que la vida te sonría siempre, empezando por este cumpleaños! (May life always smile at you, starting with this birthday!)
A wish for blessings in the coming year.
Example: ¡Que este nuevo año de tu vida esté lleno de bendiciones y alegrías! (May this new year of your life be full of blessings and joys!)
An exhortation to celebrate.
Example: ¡A celebrar se ha dicho, es hora de festejar tu cumpleaños! (Let's celebrate, it's time to celebrate your birthday!)
Emphasizing the importance of the birthday person.
Example: ¡Este día es solo para ti, disfrútalo al máximo! (This day is just for you, enjoy it to the fullest!)
A wish for overwhelming happiness.
Example: ¡Que la felicidad te inunde en tu día y siempre! (May happiness flood your day and always!)
Celebrating the individual's life.
Example: ¡Un brindis por ti en tu cumpleaños, que sea un año increíble! (A toast to you on your birthday, may it be an incredible year!)
A wish for the fulfillment of personal goals.
Example: ¡Que se cumplan tus metas este año, empezando por un cumpleaños fantástico! (May your goals be achieved this year, starting with a fantastic birthday!)
Hoping the day is magical.
Example: ¡Deseándote un día lleno de magia y momentos inolvidables! (Wishing you a day full of magic and unforgettable moments!)
A wish for endless enjoyment.
Example: ¡Que la diversión nunca termine en tu cumpleaños y en tu vida! (May the fun never end on your birthday and in your life!)
¡A por otro año de éxitos!** - Here's to another year of successes!
Looking forward to continued success.
Example: A por otro año de éxitos y logros, feliz cumpleaños! (Here's to another year of successes and achievements, happy birthday!)
Wishing for good fortune.
Example: ¡Que la suerte esté de tu lado este nuevo año de vida! (May luck be on your side this new year of life!)
Acknowledging the uniqueness of the birthday person.
Example: ¡Te mereces un día espectacular para una persona tan especial como tú! (You deserve a spectacular day for a person as special as you!)
Recognizing the importance of the person's life.
Example: ¡Celebramos tu existencia y todo lo que aportas a nuestras vidas! (We celebrate your existence and all that you bring to our lives!)
Wishing for a long and happy life.
Example: ¡Por muchos años más de felicidad y hermosos momentos juntos! (For many more years of happiness and beautiful moments together!)
Hoping the birthday starts a great year.
Example: ¡Que este día marque el inicio de un año maravilloso lleno de éxitos! (May this day mark the beginning of a wonderful year full of successes!)
Encouragement to continue being wonderful.
Example: ¡Sigue brillando como siempre, especialmente en tu cumpleaños! (Keep shining as always, especially on your birthday!)
When someone wishes you "Feliz Cumpleaños", it's a kind way to celebrate your special day. Responding to their birthday wishes is a chance to say thank you and share your happiness with them. Your thankful response helps create a warm, joyful moment that you both can remember fondly. Simple responses go a long way in making the birthday well-wisher feel appreciated too. Here are a couple of them:
Here are some phrases you can use to respond to common birthday wishes in Spanish:
¡Muchas gracias! Estoy muy feliz de celebrarlo contigo.
Translation: Thank you so much! I'm very happy to celebrate it with you.
¡Gracias! Que tus palabras se conviertan en realidad.
Translation: Thanks! May your words come true.
¡Aprecio mucho tus deseos! Espero que este año sea increíble para ambos.
Translation: I really appreciate your wishes! I hope this year is amazing for both of us.
¡Gracias por recordarlo! Tu amistad significa mucho para mí.
Translation: Thanks for remembering! Your friendship means a lot to me.
¡Mil gracias! Tener amigos como tú hace que este día sea aún más especial.
Translation: A thousand thanks! Having friends like you makes this day even more special.
Singing a birthday song is a beloved tradition in Spanish-speaking cultures. However, you may be surprised that there's more than one classic "Feliz Cumpleaños" tune instead of the familiar English version.
The most common Spanish birthday song is an almost direct translation. Popular across Spain and Latin America, it features slight variations like "Cumpleaños feliz" or calling out the birthday person's name.
The Spanish Happy Birthday song:
Cumpleaños feliz
Cumpleaños feliz
Te deseamos todos
Cumpleaños feliz
"Feliz Cumpleaños" and other phrases I shared here are warm and affectionate greetings used in Spanish-speaking cultures to celebrate someone's special day. In the Spanish birthday tradition, it's more than just greetings; we love celebrating and wishing someone a happy birthday is key in these celebrations, deeply embedded in the customs and traditions of Spanish-speaking countries.
1. How do you say "Happy Birthday" in Spanish?
"Happy Birthday" is translated to "Feliz Cumpleaños" in Spanish. This is the most common and universally understood way to convey birthday wishes in Spanish-speaking countries.
2. Are there any variations of "Feliz Cumpleaños" used in different Spanish-speaking regions?
While "Feliz Cumpleaños" is standard, some regions may have their unique expressions or additional phrases that accompany the main greeting, such as "Que cumplas muchos más" (May you have many more) or "¡Y que cumplas muchos más!" (And may you have many more!).
3. Is it common to sing a birthday song in Spanish?
Yes, much like the "Happy Birthday" song in English, there's a popular birthday song in Spanish that starts with "Cumpleaños feliz, te deseamos a ti" (Happy birthday, we wish to you). This song is widely sung at birthday parties and gatherings in Spanish-speaking communities.
4. Can "Feliz Cumpleaños" be used both formally and informally?
Absolutely. "Feliz Cumpleaños" is appropriate for both formal and informal settings. The context, such as the relationship to the person and the setting, will dictate how you deliver the greeting, whether with additional affectionate phrases among friends and family or as a straightforward wish in more formal or professional situations.
5. How can I make my "Feliz Cumpleaños" wish more personal?
To personalize a "Feliz Cumpleaños" wish, consider adding a heartfelt message that reflects your relationship with the person or incorporates an inside joke or memory you share. You could also express specific good wishes for the year ahead, such as "Que este año te traiga mucho éxito y felicidad" (May this year bring you much success and happiness). Personal touches like these make the greeting more meaningful and tailored to the individual.