How to say happy birthday in Norwegian
Gratulerer med dagen
Say it like this: grah-too-LEH-rer meh DAH-gen
To say happy birthday in Norwegian, you say "Gratulerer med dagen". You will hear it all over Norway, for children and grown ups alike. Here is how to say it, other friendly wishes, and the song Norwegians sing.
"Gratulerer" means congratulations, "med" means with or on, and "dagen" means the day. So it means "congratulations on the day".
Other ways to say happy birthday in Norwegian
- Gratulerer så mye med dagen!Say it like this: grah-too-LEH-rer saw MEE-eh meh DAH-genMeans "congratulations so much on the day". A warmer version, great for friends.
- Til lykke med dagen!Say it like this: til LUE-keh meh DAH-genMeans "good luck with the day". Another very common way, fine for anyone.
- Hjertelig til lykke!Say it like this: YEHR-teh-lee til LUE-kehMeans "heartfelt congratulations". Nice in a card.
- Gratulerer med 50-årsdagen!Say it like this: grah-too-LEH-rer meh FEM-ti-ORS-dah-genFor a big birthday. Change the number, for example 50-årsdagen for a 50th.
- Ha en fin dag!Say it like this: hah en FEEN dahgMeans "have a nice day". A friendly extra line after the birthday wish.
- Hipp hipp hurra!Say it like this: hip hip hoo-RAHA cheerful cheer, often shouted after the birthday song.
The Happy Birthday song in Norwegian
Hurra for deg som fyller ditt år!
Ja, deg vil vi gratulere!
Alle i ring omkring deg vi står,
og se, nå vil vi marsjere.
This is the classic Norwegian birthday song, "Hurra for deg", with its own tune. Children walk in a ring around the birthday child while they sing. Many Norwegians also sing Happy Birthday in English.
Birthday customs
- In Norway, small Norwegian flags are a popular birthday decoration, on the table, on the cake or in the garden.
- In nurseries and schools, the birthday child often wears a paper crown and stands in the middle while everyone sings "Hurra for deg".
- A favourite birthday cake in Norway is "bløtkake", a soft sponge cake with cream and fresh berries.
A quick tip
The letters å and ø are special Norwegian letters. If your keyboard does not have them, "Gratulerer med dagen" has neither, so it is the easiest wish to type.
Questions people ask
Is it "Gratulerer med dagen" or "Til lykke med dagen"?
Both are correct and both are used. "Gratulerer med dagen" is perhaps the most common.
Can I say "Gratulerer med bursdagen"?
Yes. "Bursdag" means birthday, and in some parts of Norway people say it this way. "Gratulerer med dagen" works everywhere.
What do you say back?
Say "Tusen takk" (TOO-sen TAHK), which means a thousand thanks.
Wish someone happy birthday in Norwegian
Type their name, and we will turn it into a birthday surprise in Norwegian: 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.