anniversaire
/a.ni.vɛʁ.sɛʁ/masculine
The French word for anniversary is anniversaire.
The word anniversaire refers to the day marking an exact number of years since an event. It is used to describe both an anniversary of an event and a birthday.
Meaning: day an exact number of years since an event (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun anniversaire is masculine, so it is used with masculine articles such as un or le.
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced /a.ni.vɛʁ.sɛʁ/ and has 4 syllables.
What mistakes should you avoid?
In English, people distinguish between an anniversary and a birthday, but in French, anniversaire is used for both. To specifically specify a birthday and avoid confusion with a wedding or other event anniversary, you can say anniversaire de naissance.
When do people say it?
The phrase Bon anniversaire ! is the standard way to wish someone a happy birthday.
Did you know?
- In Quebec, you might hear Bonne fête ! used as the primary way to wish someone a happy birthday, rather than Bon anniversaire !
- In a formal or religious context, an anniversaire can refer to a mass said for the deceased on the date of their death.
- While English uses 'anniversary' for milestones, French uses anniversaire for the specific date, but the term jubilé is used for major milestones like a 25th or 50th anniversary.
Examples in context
- Ce n'est pas notre anniversaire.It's not our anniversary.This sentence is useful for showing the negation of the phrase with anniversaire.Tatoeba #4855524 by sacredceltic, translation #2713426 by CK
- Félicitations pour ton anniversaire.Congratulations on your anniversary.This sentence is useful for showing how to offer congratulations using anniversaire.Tatoeba #730344 by U2FS, translation #434460 by lukaszpp
- Ils fêtent leur anniversaire de mariage.They're celebrating their wedding anniversary.This sentence is useful for showing how to specify a wedding anniversary with anniversaire.Tatoeba #12423017 by lbdx, translation #680206 by Source_VOA
- Nous célébrons notre anniversaire de mariage cette année.We are celebrating our wedding anniversary this year.
- Joyeux anniversaire!Happy anniversary!
- 23 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Nathan and Chloé are discussing a date on the calendar.
- NathanC'est quand ton anniversaire ?When is your birthday?
- ChloéC'est le douze mai, Nathan.It is May twelfth, Nathan.
- NathanJe vais préparer un gâteau pour ton anniversaire.I will bake a cake for your birthday.
- ChloéC'est vraiment gentil de ta part !That is really kind of you!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “anniversary” translations and entries anniversaire, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
