Happy Birthday in French
Part of: Happy Birthday in Every Language
Happy birthday in French is "joyeux anniversaire", pronounced zhwah-YUH ah-nee-vair-SAIR. "Bon anniversaire" means the same and is slightly warmer. In Quebec people say "bonne fete" instead, which confuses visitors because in France that phrase means happy saint's day, not happy birthday.
Tap Copy on any wish, then paste it into your message. Or turn one into an animated fireworks card you can send as a link.
Every phrase below has a Copy button. French accents change meaning, so copying is safer than typing them yourself.
The phrase you need
| French | Pronounced | Where and when |
|---|---|---|
| Joyeux anniversaire | zhwah-YUH ah-nee-vair-SAIR | Everywhere, everyone, always correct |
| Bon anniversaire | bon ah-nee-vair-SAIR | Slightly warmer, very common |
| Bonne fete | bun FET | Quebec and Canada — in France this means something else |
| Joyeux anniv | zhwah-YUH ah-NEEV | Texts between friends only |
The Quebec difference is the one that catches people out. In France, "bonne fete" wishes someone a happy saint's day — the feast day of the saint they share a name with. Say it to a French person on their birthday and they will understand you, but it will sound slightly off.
Copy these
Joyeux anniversaire !
Bon anniversaire !
Joyeux anniversaire ! Passe une excellente journee.
Je te souhaite un tres joyeux anniversaire.
Joyeux anniversaire ! Profite bien de ta journee.
Tous mes voeux de bonheur pour ton anniversaire.
Joyeux anniversaire ! Que cette annee t'apporte tout ce que tu desires.
Passe une merveilleuse journee.
Joyeux anniversaire et plein de belles choses pour cette nouvelle annee.
Encore une annee de plus, et toujours aussi bien.
For someone you love
Joyeux anniversaire, mon amour.
Joyeux anniversaire a la personne qui compte le plus pour moi.
Chaque annee avec toi est meilleure que la precedente. Joyeux anniversaire.
Joyeux anniversaire, ma cherie. Je t'aime.
Merci d'exister. Bon anniversaire.
For family
Joyeux anniversaire, maman. Je t'aime fort.
Joyeux anniversaire, papa. Merci pour tout.
Joyeux anniversaire, ma soeur. Tu es la meilleure.
Joyeux anniversaire, mamie. Gros bisous.
Joyeux anniversaire, mon fils. Je suis fier de toi.
For work
Joyeux anniversaire ! Excellente journee a toi.
Je vous souhaite un tres bon anniversaire.
Tous mes voeux pour cette nouvelle annee.
Joyeux anniversaire de la part de toute l'equipe.
Note the switch from te to vous in the work section. French does have a formality distinction, and getting it wrong is the most common mistake English speakers make. Use vous with a manager, a client or anyone older you do not know well.
The birthday song in French
France sings the same tune with these words:
Joyeux anniversaire, joyeux anniversaire, joyeux anniversaire [name], joyeux anniversaire.
Quebec has its own well-known version, "Mon cher ami, c'est a ton tour de te laisser parler d'amour", which is sung far more often there than the translated one.
What is different about a French birthday
In France the birthday person often brings the cake and pays for the drinks rather than being treated. Offering to pay for everything can come across as slightly odd.
A fete — the saint's day — is a separate occasion. Older generations still mark it, which is why French calendars print a saint's name on every day.
Party words worth knowing
| French | English |
|---|---|
| la fete | the party |
| le gateau | the cake |
| les bougies | the candles |
| le cadeau | the gift |
| fais un voeu | make a wish |
| souffle les bougies | blow out the candles |
Send a card that says it in French
The accents in anniversaire and the space before the exclamation mark are both correct French typography, and both get lost when people type from memory. Copy the phrases above instead.
To send something they can watch, type the greeting into the free fireworks card maker. It renders French accents correctly and each letter explodes into light with real firework sound. Send it as a link that plays instantly on their phone.
Common questions
How do you say happy birthday in French? "Joyeux anniversaire", pronounced zhwah-YUH ah-nee-vair-SAIR. "Bon anniversaire" is an equally common alternative.
What is the difference between joyeux anniversaire and bon anniversaire? Almost none. "Joyeux" is closer to joyful and "bon" to good. Both are used constantly and neither is more formal.
Why do people in Quebec say bonne fete? In Quebec French, "bonne fete" simply means happy birthday. In France the same phrase refers to a saint's day, which is why it confuses people who learned French in Europe.
How do you say happy belated birthday in French? "Joyeux anniversaire en retard", or "desole pour le retard, joyeux anniversaire" to apologise first.
Do I use tu or vous in a birthday message? Use tu for friends, family and anyone your own age you know. Use vous for a manager, a client, or an older person you are not close to.