Spanish grammar · Beginner
How to Say Happy Birthday in Spanish: Feliz Cumpleaños
Feliz cumpleaños is happy birthday in Spanish. Common alternatives: feliz día (happy day), muchas felicidades (many congratulations), feliz cumple (happy bday, casual). The birthday song starts: Cumpleaños feliz, cumpleaños feliz...
¡Feliz cumpleaños!
Happy birthday!
What it is
Feliz cumpleaños = happy birthday. Cumpleaños (cumple = complete + años = years) is the standard word. Alternatives: feliz día (happy day), muchas felicidades (many congratulations), feliz cumple (casual, happy bday).
¡Feliz cumpleaños! (Happy birthday!) plus a wish: Que tengas un gran día (Have a great day).
How to spot it
Standard: feliz cumpleaños. Casual: feliz cumple. Alternative: feliz día, muchas felicidades. The birthday song: Cumpleaños feliz, cumpleaños feliz, te deseamos todos, cumpleaños feliz.
- ¡Feliz cumpleaños! — Happy birthday!
- ¡Feliz cumple! — Happy bday! (casual)
- ¡Muchas felicidades! — Many congratulations!
Feliz cumpleaños is universal. Add a wish: Que cumplas muchos más (May you celebrate many more), Que tengas un día maravilloso (Have a wonderful day).
How to Say Happy Birthday in Spanish Quick Reference
Birthday wishes in Spanish
| Expression | Meaning | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Feliz cumpleaños | Happy birthday | Universal, standard |
| Feliz cumple | Happy bday | Casual / informal |
| Feliz día | Happy day | Common LatAm alternative |
| Muchas felicidades | Many congratulations | Warm, common |
| Que cumplas muchos más | May you have many more | Wishing well |
| Que tengas un gran día | Have a great day | Additional wish |
| ¡Felicidades! | Congratulations! | Birthday or any celebration |
| Te deseo lo mejor | I wish you the best | Warm addition |
Common How to Say Happy Birthday in Spanish Examples in Spanish
Birthday greetings in Spanish:
Basic Birthday Wishes
- ¡Feliz cumpleaños!
- Happy birthday!
- ¡Feliz cumple!
- Happy bday!
- Feliz cumpleaños, amigo.
- Happy birthday, friend.
- Felicidades en tu día.
- Congratulations on your day.
- ¡Muchas felicidades!
- Many congratulations!
Feliz cumpleaños is the standard. Feliz cumple is more casual. Felicidades is also common and warm.
Wishes for the Year Ahead
- Que cumplas muchos más.
- May you celebrate many more.
- Que tengas un año lleno de éxitos.
- May you have a year full of successes.
- Te deseo lo mejor en este nuevo año.
- I wish you the best in this new year.
- Que se cumplan todos tus deseos.
- May all your wishes come true.
- Que tengas un día maravilloso.
- Have a wonderful day.
Add a wish for the year ahead. These use the subjunctive after que (que + cumplas, que + tengas).
Birthday Song (Cumpleaños Feliz)
- Cumpleaños feliz,
- Happy birthday,
- Cumpleaños feliz,
- Happy birthday,
- Te deseamos todos,
- We all wish you,
- Cumpleaños feliz.
- Happy birthday.
Spanish birthday song. Some regions have local versions (Mañanitas in Mexico, for example).
Mexican Birthday Song (Las Mañanitas)
- Estas son las mañanitas que cantaba el rey David,
- These are the morning songs that King David sang,
- Hoy por ser día de tu santo, te las cantamos a ti.
- Today, being your saint's day, we sing them to you.
- Despierta, mi bien, despierta, mira que ya amaneció,
- Wake up, my dear, wake up, see the day has dawned,
- Ya los pajarillos cantan, la luna ya se metió.
- The birds are singing, the moon has set.
Las Mañanitas is the traditional Mexican birthday song, often sung at midnight or in the morning.
Happy Birthday in Spanish
Cumpleaños Is Plural
Cumpleaños comes from cumplir (to complete) + años (years). Always plural form, even in singular contexts. El cumpleaños = the birthday.
Mi cumpleaños es en mayo.
My birthday is in May.
Always cumpleaños (with s).
Feliz Cumple Is Casual
Feliz cumple shortens cumpleaños. Very casual, used with friends, family, partners. Cumpleañero / cumpleañera = the birthday person.
¡Feliz cumple, cumpleañero!
Happy bday, birthday boy!
Cumple = casual.
Add Subjunctive Wishes With Que
Use que + subjunctive to wish someone well: que cumplas muchos más (may you have many more), que tengas un gran día (have a great day), que la pases bien (have a good time).
Que cumplas muchos más, ¡feliz cumpleaños!
May you have many more, happy birthday!
Que + subjunctive for wishes.
Felicidades Works Too
Felicidades (congratulations) is also used for birthdays. Warmer / more emotional. Muchas felicidades = many congratulations. Common in cards and messages.
¡Muchas felicidades en tu día especial!
Many congratulations on your special day!
Felicidades = warm congratulations.
Common Mistakes with How to Say Happy Birthday in Spanish
Incorrect: Feliz cumpleaño. — Happy birthday.
Correct: Feliz cumpleaños. — Happy birthday.
Cumpleaños is always plural (cumple + años = complete years). Even singular meaning uses cumpleaños with s.
Incorrect: Felicidaciones. (made up) — Congratulations.
Correct: Felicidades. / Felicitaciones. — Congratulations.
Two valid forms: Felicidades (Spain mostly) and Felicitaciones (LatAm common). Both mean congratulations. Felicidaciones is not a word.
How to Say Happy Birthday in Spanish FAQs
- How do you say happy birthday in Spanish?
- Feliz cumpleaños = happy birthday. Casual: feliz cumple. Warm alternative: muchas felicidades. Add a wish: que cumplas muchos más (may you have many more), que tengas un gran día (have a great day).
- What's the Spanish birthday song?
- Standard: Cumpleaños feliz, cumpleaños feliz, te deseamos todos, cumpleaños feliz (same melody as Happy Birthday). Mexico has Las Mañanitas, traditionally sung at midnight or in the morning.
- What does feliz cumple mean?
- Feliz cumple is the casual short form of feliz cumpleaños (happy birthday). Used with friends, family, partners. Don't use feliz cumple in formal contexts (cards from coworkers, professional settings).
- How do I write happy birthday in a Spanish card?
- Feliz cumpleaños, [name]. Add: Que cumplas muchos más. Te deseo un año lleno de éxitos. Que se cumplan todos tus deseos. Un fuerte abrazo (a big hug). Con cariño (with love).
- How do I sound natural wishing happy birthday in Spanish?
- Don't stop at feliz cumpleaños - add a wish. Use que + subjunctive (que cumplas muchos más). Match the relationship (feliz cumple casual, feliz cumpleaños standard). Parrot's videos show real native birthday wishes in context.