Alles Gute zum Geburtstag – Celebrate Your Birthday Like A German
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Just remembered that a friend or colleague’s birthday is coming up on the weekend? Thought you’d get a jump on the situation and say Happy Birthday on Friday morning? In Germany, the answer to that question is a resounding: Falsch.
When to wish a German Happy Birthday
For all their famed hyper-rationality, Germans are surprisingly superstitious about birthdays. Extended good wishes and kind thoughts about their continued health before the stroke of midnight on the exact anniversary of their birth will be met with an awkward laugh and a face that says, "I wish you hadn’t done that."
The consequences of an early birthday wish could just be run-of-the-mill bad luck or, in the more rural parts of the country, something as dire as blue children. Best not to risk it.
How to wish a German Happy Birthday
Once you’ve established to correct time to extend birthday greeting, the decision is how to do so. In almost all circumstance, a simple Happy Birthday (Alles Gute zum Geburtstag) works, but if you want to be extra fancy, you can try:
• Ganz herzliche Glückwünsche zum Geburtstag (All good wishes on your birthday)
• Herzlichen Glückwunsch zum Geburtstag und alles, alles Gute (Good wishes for your birthday and all the best for the coming year)
• Herzlichen Glückwunsch zum Geburtstag und alles Liebe (Good wishes for your birthday and everything lovely)
If you find yourself writing a card or want to impress a gchat/Whatsapp correspondent, copy and paste one of these little bits of lovely.
• Ich wünsche dir zu deinem Geburtstag alles Liebe und Gute – verbringe einen wunderschönen Tag im Kreise deiner Lieben (I wish you on your birthday everything lovely and good. Have a beautiful day surrounded by those that love you.)
• Ich wünsche dir einen herzlichen Glückwunsch zum Geburtstag und alles Liebe und Gute und ganz viel Gesundheit und Spaß. Lass dich schön feiern. (I wish you many happy returns on your birthday and everything that is lovely and good and good health and much fun.)
For extra credit, select the appropriate greeting from the area of Germany the object of your good wishes is either currently located in or originally from. This is advanced level and completely unnecessary, but a thoughtful touch if you can pull it off.
• Munich/Bavaria: Ois Guade zu Deim Geburdstog!
• Berlin: Alles Jute ooch zum Jeburtstach!
• Frankfurt/Hessen: Isch gratelier Dir aach zum Geburtstach!
• Cologne: Alles Juute zum Jeburtstaach!
• Hamburg/Münster/North Germany: Ick wünsch Di alls Gode ton Geburtsdach!
• Vienna/Austrian: Ois Guade zum Geburdsdog!
• Bern/Swiss: Es Muentschi zum Geburri!
What happens at a German birthday party
Germans get somewhere in the region of 28 days holiday from work each year, so taking a day off for your birthday, or at the very least cancelling non-social evening appointments is a normal thing to do.
In Germany, birthdays are your chance to treat your friends. If you’re at work, you are expected to bring your own cake or birthday snacks. If you are meeting friends for drinks after work or are organising a more formal dinner at a restaurant, your guests will expect you to pay the bill. Of course, not everyone can afford a big splash out, so it’s also fine to say that you’ll pay for the drinks or just the beer when everyone goes out for dinner.
Birthday parties are held either after the actual birthday (for reasons outlined in the first paragraph) or the day before the birthday. If it is the day before the actual birthday, guests are expected to stay until midnight to help the birthday boy or girl ring in their special day. The name for this – reinfeier – means celebrating in, and it’s serious business. Just like New Year’s Eve, someone will watch the time, round everyone up for a countdown and then initiate the toast to the birthday person.
It is also usual for guests at a birthday party to bring presents for the guest of honour. Normally these are small, thoughtful presents that are given without a big show. If you don’t know the birthday person very well, a modest bunch of flowers or a nice bottle of liquor will do.
A small warning: if the birthday in question is at the end of September and you find yourself in deepest Bavaria for the occasion, you might find yourself in the middle of a celebration like this. Just ride the wave and have another beer.
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Sending happy birthday wishes can be more challenging than it seems, thanks to those inviting yet pesky blank spaces on the birthday card. After all, how can you put into words everything you feel for your loved one? And how can everything fit in that space?
Maybe all you need is a little nudge — by way of some birthday quotes and sayings.
To help you send the perfect happy birthday wish, weve put together a list of our favorites below. Short, long, funny, sweet, weve tried to include every length and tone you and your card may be looking for!
So, take some time to browse. Use a quote or two for inspiration, or even borrow the words themselves. No matter how you decide to use them, know that you dont have to face those daunting blank spaces alone.
Birthday Quotes, Happy Birthday Wishes, and Birthday Sayings
• You dont get older, you get better.
• Age is merely the number of years the world has been enjoying you. Happy birthday!
• “Just remember, once youre over the hill you begin to pick up speed.” – Charles Schulz
• “You know youre getting old when the candles cost more than the cake.” – Bob Hope
• “A party without cake is just a meeting.” – Julia Child
• “Today you are you! That is truer than true! There is no one alive who is you-er than you!” – Dr. Seuss
• “Dont just count your years, make your years count.” – George Meredith
• “I think all this talk about age is foolish. Every time Im one year older, everyone else is too.” – Gloria Swanson
• “It takes a long time to become young.” – Pablo Picasso
• Wishing you a birthday as amazing as you are!
• Cheers to another trip around the sun – happy birthday!
• Hoping your birthday is extra sweet.
• Sending you happy, dancing, confetti-popping, cake-filled birthday wishes!
• The older you get, the better you get. Unless youre a banana.
• Just like a fine wine, you get better with age.
• Wishing you a purrrrfect birthday.
• I am so happy you were born, and even happier youre in my life.
• To my dearest, sweetest, most wonderful friend – wishing you a year filled with nothing but happiness.
• Another year older, another year wiser, and another night well never remember. Happy birthday!
• Cheers to the birthday girl – drinks on me!
• HBD to my BFF
• Youre not old, youre classic.
• Dont worry, youre not getting old. You were already old a long time ago.
• May your birthday bloom with happiness!
• I hope that all of the beauty and kindness that you bring into the world comes back to you in the year ahead.
• Thank you for everything you do, for always being there, and for making my life so much brighter. Happy birthday!
• Getting older is mandatory, but growing up is optional.
Birthday Card Ideas
How frustrating is it to be writing a happy birthday wish with a pen, only to make the tiniest mistake? Pretty darn frustrating.
When you choose a design from our online birthday card collection, not only will you be able to send a beautiful and eco-friendly card, youll have the ability to erase your mistakes — write and rewrite your happy birthday wishes as many times as you need to before you hit "Send". Now your loved ones can receive the birthday wish they deserve, free of scribbles.
Start designing today, explore the countless customization possibilities, and schedule your card to send when you need it to, whether thats in the next five minutes, or five months from now.
Wish you a many many happy returns of the day. May God bless you with health, wealth and prosperity in your life. HAPPY BIRTHDAY
On your birthday I wish you success and endless happiness!.Wishing you an awesome birthday!
Happy birthday to my closest and oldest friend! I feel blessed, because our friendship is a true gift of life.
Wish you a beautiful birthday and I hope you get double of everything you want in your life. Happy Birthday!
Today is not just your special day, it is even mine. Because today was the day when my best friend came into this world. If it were not for today, my life wouldn't have been half the fun it is. I owe so much to you. I love you buddy. Happy Birthday.
May your birthday and your life be as wonderful as you are . Happy Birthday
My dearest sister, wish you a very warm and happy birthday. You are not only the sweetest sister but also a true friend. I feel blessed to have a sister like you. May you achieve and get all you ever wish for.
On your birthday may all that you asked from God be granted to you hundred fold! Happy Birthday to my sweetest friend. Always keep smiling the way you do! Have an amazing day and an even more special year ahead. May God Bless you.
My dear brother, I wish you a very happy and joyful year ahead. May God love and care you, as you did for me. May you live a long and beautiful life. Happy Birthday.
May you achieve everything you desire in life. I wish you a very sweet and happy birthday. May you have an awesome life ahead. Enjoy your day
Happy Birthday Dear Sister You Are Amazing You Are Special You Are Unique You Are Kind You Are Precious You Are Loved.
My dear friend, may your special day be full of beautiful, magical and unforgettable moments!
You are my special friend,I love you from the core of my heart,I''ll keep you near always.Happy Birthday Dear Friend.
You are very special and you deserve the best. I wish you a wonderful life filled with love and happiness. Happy Birthday.
A cute brother like you deserve all the happiness in life,For today and forever in time,Happy birthday bro,Have a nice day!
Wish a fabulous birthday to my cutest baby
Thinking of you and the good times we spent make me smile! Happy birthday to a friend who is always close to my heart.
Happy Birthday I pray that God blesses you with all the happiness in this universe. May you prosper and shine everywhere you go.
I’m sorry I can't be with you on your special day but I will always be there for you in mind and spirit. I wish for you a wonderful birthday!
I just want to wish you lots of luck,good health and yes lots of wealth,On this day,Wish you a super birthday,To my lovely bro!
May your sweet smile never fade away. I wish you a very happy and sweet birthday. Good bless you.
Happy Birthday you are a beautiful person, inside and out .I hope that you remember that,today and always.
Happy birthday is just a wish,But, I will pray that you get everything my bestie,Because you deserve the best in life,And, I pray you don't have to strive,So, stay blessed,Wish you a very happy birthday!
My crazy, loving, caring and fun little sister, life without you would have been a crazy twister. Happy birthday
Happy Birthday to the King of my heart, the man of my dreams, and the love of my life.
Wishing you an awesome day,With good luck on your way, Stay blessed and happy this day, My dear friend on your birthday today
Happy birthday to the love of my life! You deserve all the best that life could bring .I wish you happiness, success and good health! I love you !
You are as beautiful today as the first day I saw you. You will always have my heart and my love. Happy Birthday!
Happy birthday to my wonderful wife! I feel blessed to have such a loving and caring person in my life. Love you so much, darling.
Dear son, you are like a prince to us. May you have a great year and glorious life ahead. We are always with you. I wish you a very Happy Birthday.
Though I don’t talk to you every day but you always remain the deepest core of my heart. Happy Birthday, Sister.
Sisters are like rainbows. They bring in 7 great emotions in your life ? Joy, laughter, anger, jealousy, dreams, surprises and companionship. You're the rainbow of my life dear sis. Wishing you a very Happy Birthday.
If you have an Italian friend, significant other or relative whose special day is on the horizon, a sure-fire way to impress them is to learn how to say Happy Birthday in Italian!
The official greeting is Buon Compleanno, with buon meaning ‘good‘ and compleanno meaning ‘birthday‘.
IPA: /buò·n com·ple·àn·no/Buon compleanno. Spero che tutti i tuoi desideri si avverino.
Happy birthday. I hope all your wishes come true.
In speech, another popular greeting is Tanti auguri (or even more simply Auguri) which is the Italian for Best wishes. It can be used, not only for birthdays, but any special occasion including anniversaries, the new year, graduations and so on.
Tanti auguri! Non vedo l'ora per la tua festa!
Happy Birthday! I can't wait for your party!
If you're writing a card or a letter, buon compleanno tends to be the primary choice. Sometimes you'll even see the two expressions combined:
Tanti auguri di buon compleanno!
Best wishes for a happy birthday!
Another popular expression is Auguroni! which is formed by adding the plural augmentative suffix -oni onto the end of auguri. It literally means big wishes.
Happy Birthday Wishes and Greetings in Italian
When writing a birthday card, it can be a challenge to think of something touching to write in English, let alone in Italian! To get you started, we've listed a few basic greetings that you might find inspiring:
• Tanti auguri di buon compleanno alla persona migliore che conosco. = Happy birthday to the best person I know.
• Auguri di buon compleanno dal profondo del cuore. = Happy birthday wishes from the bottom of the heart.
• Buon compleanno! Che questa giornata possa trascorrere serena e piena di gioia. = Happy birthday! May this day be serene and full of joy.
In lieu of using the birthday boy or girl's name in your card, you may wish to address them according to their relationship to you instead.
figlio = son
figlia = daughter
Buon compleanno, amico mio!
Happy birthday, my friend!
You may also wish to mention their age in your greeting, particularly if they are celebrating a landmark birthday. Below are a few of the most important milestones worth celebrating:
Buon primo compleanno!
Happy 1st birthday!
Buon sedicesimo compleanno!
Happy 16th birthday!
Buon diciottesimo compleanno!
Happy 18th birthday!
Buon ventunesimo compleanno!
Happy 21st birthday!
Buon trentesimo compleanno!
Happy 30th birthday!
Buon quarantesimo compleanno!
Happy 40th birthday!
Buon cinquantesimo compleanno!
Happy 50th birthday!
Buon sessantesimo compleanno!
Happy 60th birthday!
Buon settantesimo compleanno!
Happy 70th birthday!
Buon ottantesimo compleanno!
Happy 80th birthday!
Buon novantesimo compleanno!
Happy 90th birthday!
Buon centesimo compleanno!
Happy 100th birthday!
If a dear friend or relative has a good sense of humour, you can wish them a happy birthday by teasing them about their age.
Auguroni zio! Stai invecchiando, ma ti vogliamo bene lo stesso!
Happy birthday uncle! You're getting old, but we love you all the same!
Or you can turn the ageing joke to something complementary with a phrase such as:
Buon compleanno zio. È vero stai invecchiando ma, come il vino buono, invecchiando migliori!
Happy birthday uncle! It's true you're getting older but, like a good wine, getting old makes you a better person!
Happy Birthday Song in Italian (with Lyrics)
The Italian version of the Happy Birthday song is Tanti Auguri a Te, which literally translates as Many Wishes to You. The tune is identical to the English version and the lyrics are more or less a direct translation.
Version 1
Tanti auguri a te
tanti auguri a te
tanti auguri a [person's name]
tanti auguri a te
Version 2
Tanti auguri a te
tanti auguri a te
tanti auguri felici
tanti auguri a te