How to say happy birthday in Pashto

To say happy birthday in Pashto, you say "کلیزه دې مبارک شه". Pashto is spoken in Afghanistan and in north-west Pakistan, and by Pashtun families around the world. Here is how to say it, a polite form, and other kind ways to share your wishes.

"Kaleeza" means birthday or anniversary. "Day" means your, "mubarak" means blessed, and "sha" means may it be. So it means "may your birthday be blessed".

Other ways to say happy birthday in Pashto

• کلیزه مو مبارک شه (kaleeza mo mubarak sha)Say it like this: ka-LEE-za mo mu-BAA-rak shaThe polite form. Use it for elders, a teacher or someone you do not know well.
• کلیزه مبارک (kaleeza mubarak)Say it like this: ka-LEE-za mu-BAA-rakShort and simple, "blessed birthday". Good for messages.
• د زیږیدلو کلیزه دې مبارک شهSay it like this: da zay-zhay-DUH-lo ka-LEE-za day mu-BAA-rak shaThe longer form. "Da zayzhedalo" means of being born, so it says "may your birthday be blessed". Nice in writing.
• د زیږیدلو کلیزه مو مبارک شهSay it like this: da zay-zhay-DUH-lo ka-LEE-za mo mu-BAA-rak shaThe same longer wish with the polite "mo". Good for elders and in a card.

The Happy Birthday song in Pashto

There is no Pashto birthday song that everyone knows. At parties, people usually sing the English Happy Birthday song.

Birthday customs

• In Afghanistan and Pakistan, big birthday parties are a fairly new custom. They are more common in cities and with younger people.
• Many older people in Afghanistan do not know their exact date of birth, so 1 January is often written on official papers instead.
• Some religious families prefer not to celebrate birthdays at all, so a simple, kind wish is often the best choice.

A quick tip

Pashto is written from right to left in a script based on Arabic. Copy and paste the greeting so the letters join up correctly. "دې" (day) is the friendly "your"; switch to "مو" (mo) to be polite.

Questions people ask