How to say happy birthday in Arabic
عيد ميلاد سعيد
Say it like this: eed mee-LAAD sa-EED
To say happy birthday in Arabic, you say "عيد ميلاد سعيد" (eid milad sa'id). It is understood across the Arab world, from Morocco to Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Iraq. Arabic is written from right to left. Here is how to say it, plus the wishes people use most in everyday life.
"عيد" (eid) means celebration or festival, "ميلاد" (milad) means birth, and "سعيد" (sa'id) means happy. So it means "happy birth celebration".
Other ways to say happy birthday in Arabic
- كل عام وأنت بخير (kul 'aam wa anta bikhayr)Say it like this: kull AAM wa AN-ta bi-KHAYRMeans "may you be well every year". The most loved wish of all. This is the form for a man.
- كل عام وأنتِ بخير (kul 'aam wa anti bikhayr)Say it like this: kull AAM wa AN-ti bi-KHAYRThe same wish for a woman. Only the word for "you" changes.
- سنة حلوة (sana helwa)Say it like this: SA-na HEL-waMeans "a sweet year". Very popular in Egypt and the Levant, great for friends and texts.
- عقبال المية سنة (u'baal il-miit sana)Say it like this: OO-baal il-MEET SA-naMeans "may you reach one hundred". A fun, warm extra line, common in Egypt and the Levant.
- أتمنى لك عيد ميلاد سعيد (atamanna lak eid milad sa'id)Say it like this: a-ta-MAN-na lak eed mee-LAAD sa-EEDMeans "I wish you a happy birthday". A little fuller, nice in a card.
- كل عام وأنتم بخير (kul 'aam wa antum bikhayr)Say it like this: kull AAM wa AN-tum bi-KHAYRThe form for a group, and also a polite way to address an older person or someone you respect.
The Happy Birthday song in Arabic
سنة حلوة يا جميل,
سنة حلوة يا جميل,
سنة حلوة يا [name],
سنة حلوة يا جميل.
This is "Sana helwa ya gameel" ("a sweet year, lovely one"), sung to the usual Happy Birthday tune. It is especially popular in Egypt and is known across much of the Arab world.
Birthday customs
- Across the Arab world, "كل عام وأنت بخير" (kul 'aam wa anta bikhayr) is used for birthdays and also for Eid, Ramadan and New Year, so you will hear it many times a year.
- In Egypt, "Sana helwa ya gameel" is the song you will hear at almost every birthday party, sung while the candles are lit.
- Some religious families in Arabic-speaking countries choose not to celebrate birthdays. If you are not sure, "kul 'aam wa anta bikhayr" is a kind and safe wish.
A quick tip
Arabic changes the word for "you" for a man (أنتَ, anta), a woman (أنتِ, anti) or a group (أنتم, antum). The short greeting "عيد ميلاد سعيد" works for everyone, so use it if you are not sure.
Questions people ask
What is the most common way to say happy birthday in Arabic?
In everyday life, many people say "كل عام وأنت بخير" (kul 'aam wa anta bikhayr). "عيد ميلاد سعيد" is the direct translation and is also widely used, especially in writing.
Is it different in each country?
The written wishes are the same everywhere. Spoken Arabic varies, so in Egypt you will hear "sana helwa" a lot, and the sounds of words can shift a little from place to place.
What do you say back?
Say "شكرا" (shukran), which means thank you. If someone says "kul 'aam wa anta bikhayr", the usual reply is "وأنت بخير" (wa anta bikhayr), meaning "and you too".
Wish someone happy birthday in Arabic
Type their name, and we will turn it into a birthday surprise in Arabic: a gift box to open, confetti, their name in gold and the birthday song. Then send it by WhatsApp, text or email. It is free.