Happy Birthday! Learn birthday vocabulary in French

Updated: 15 June, 2022 by Mylene in French Vocabulary  ▪ English Français  

A birthday is the anniversary of the day on which a person was born. French birthday celebrations tend to be simple. Let’s discover the French birthday vocabulary and how to wish someone a happy birthday.

Listen to the audio and learn more about birthdays in France:

1. How to wish happy birthday in French
2. Basic facts about French birthdays
3. French birthday vocabulary
4. Sing with me the happy birthday song

Happy Birthday in French

How To Wish Happy Birthday In French?

The most common expression for saying happy birthday in French is Joyeux Anniversaire! The word joyeux here translates to happy whereas anniversaire means birthday in French.

How to pronounce joyeux anniversaire?

There is a liaison between the two words. The letter -x is pronounced /z/. Listen how to correctly pronounce joyeux anniversaire in French: joyeux anniversaire.

In French, there is no difference between a birthday and an anniversary. In fact, if you’re talking about the 10^th year anniversary of someone’s wedding you can say: Joyeux anniversaire de mariage!

What does bon anniversaire mean in French?

Bon anniversaire means literally have a good birthday! In French, bon means good or well. Listen how to correctly pronounce bon anniversaire in French: bon anniversaire.

How to pronounce bon anniversaire?

There is a liaison between the two words, bon is pronounced like bonne in this French expression.

I wish you a happy birthday in French

The three following sentences have the same meaning. They mean I wish you a happy birthday in French:

1. Je te souhaite un bon anniversaire!
2. Je te souhaite un bel anniversaire!
3. Je te souhaite un joyeux anniversaire!

If you want to be more formal you have to use the pronoun vous: Je vous souhaite un bon anniversaire meaning I wish you a happy birthday!

If you forgot to wish a happy birthday

Don’t worry, if you forgot to wish a happy birthday you just have to add “en retard” at the end.

Example: Joyeux anniversaire en retard! : Happy belated birthday!

Other ways to say happy birthday in French

Je te souhaite un super anniversaire! I wish you a great birthday!

Quelle belle journée pour fêter ton anniversaire! May this birthday be particularly happy!

Basic facts about French birthdays

A typical birthday party in France looks like this:

1. at the end of a meal, someone turns off the lights
2. all guests sing the French version of Happy Birthday to You
3. the birthday boy or girl makes a wish
4. he or she blows out candles after
5. everyone applauds
6. he or she opens the gifts

Note that in France, birthday cards tend to be sent by mail from people who aren’t present at the birthday party. It’s unusual to give a card directly with a gift.

French birthday vocabulary

The sections below are a great resource to learn French vocabulary in the context of birthdays and at the same time provide audio recordings to listen to the right pronunciation of these expressions in French.

These are organized by topic and are part of the vocabulary lists useful for French learners. To learn more vocabulary, go check our French vocabulary list.

Birthday vocabulary

un anniversaire — a birthday
joyeux anniversaire — happy birthday
bon anniversaire — have a good birthday
je te souhaite un bon anniversaire — I wish you a happy birthday
je vous souhaite un bon anniversaire — I wish you a happy birthday
faire une surprise — to surprise
célébrer une fête d’anniversaire — to celebrate a birthday
mon anniversaire tombe un lundi — my birthday is on a Monday

Cake birthday vocabulary

des bougies — candles
souffler les bougies — to blow out candles
un goûter d’anniversaire — a children’s birthday cake
faire un gâteau — to bake a cake

French party vocabulary

une fête d’anniversaire — a birthday party
une carte d’anniversaire — a birthday card
inviter des amis — to invite friends
recevoir une invitation — to receive an invitation
être invité — be invited

French gift vocabulary

un cadeau d’anniversaire — a birthday gift
un paquet cadeau — a gift pack
envoyer une carte — to send a card
faire plaisir à quelqu’un — to please someone
se faire offrir quelque chose — to get offered something
faire un cadeau — to give a present
offrir en cadeau — to give as a present
recevoir en cadeau — to receive as a present
le papier-cadeau — gift wrap

Age vocabulary in French

fêter ses trente ans — celebrating its 30th anniversary

Decoration birthday in French

des ballons — balloons
des confettis — confetti
une guirlande — a tinsel
des bonbons — candies

Birthday questions asked in French

When is your birthday? — Quelle est la date de ton anniversaire?
C’est quand l’anniversaire de François? — When is François’ birthday?
Qu’est-ce que tu as eu pour ton anniversaire? — What did you get for your birthday?
C’est pour offrir? — Is this a present?

As asking questions is an essential skill that goes beyond asking birthday questions, you can also find more about asking questions in French.

French birthday song