compleanno
/kom.pleˈan.no/masculine
The Italian word for birthday is compleanno.
compleanno is a masculine noun meaning anniversary. To wish someone a happy birthday, use the phrase Buon compleanno! For a more affectionate version, such as "Happy birthday, sweetheart!", you can say Buon compleanno, tesoro!
Meaning: anniversary (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word compleanno is a compound of completare (to complete) and anno (year), so it literally means "completed year".
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of compleanno is compleanni.
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced /kom.pleˈan.no/. It has four syllables, with the stress on the third syllable.
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often forget to include the definite article when using a possessive. Instead of just saying "mio compleanno", you must say il mio compleanno.
Did you know?
- In some traditional Italian contexts, a 'birthday' is not just a personal milestone but a moment to honor the specific saint's day associated with your name through an onomastico.
- It is common in Italy to wish someone Tanti auguri! instead of Buon compleanno!, which literally means 'Many wishes!' and is used for birthdays and other celebrations.
- The word compleanno is a partial calque of the Spanish word cumpleaños, adapted to include the Italian word anno.
Examples in context
- È il mio compleanno.It's my birthday.This sentence is useful for saying 'It's my birthday.'Tatoeba #3870116 by Guybrush88, translation #2249098 by CK
- È il mio compleanno!It's my birthday!This sentence is useful for expressing 'It's my birthday!' with excitement.Tatoeba #8912389 by Guybrush88, translation #8912385 by DemonicSatori
- È il compleanno di Tom.It's Tom's birthday.This sentence is useful for saying 'It's Tom's birthday.'Tatoeba #3838572 by Guybrush88, translation #2235822 by CK
- Buon compleanno! Che ogni giorno della tua vita sia pieno di gioia e felicità!Happy birthday! May every day of your life be filled with joy and happiness!
- Auguri di buon compleanno! Ti auguro un anno meraviglioso, colmo di soddisfazioni e successi!Best wishes for your birthday! I wish you a wonderful year, full of satisfaction and success!
- 520 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Martina and Francesco are talking about a party.
- MartinaQuando è il tuo compleanno?When is your birthday?
- FrancescoIl mio compleanno è a giugno.My birthday is in June.
- MartinaFacciamo una festa per il tuo compleanno?Shall we have a party for your birthday?
- FrancescoSì, sarebbe bellissimo!Yes, that would be wonderful!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “birthday” translations and entries compleanno, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries compleanno, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
