buon compleanno in ritardo
/ˈbwɔn kom.pleˈan.no in riˈtar.do/word by word
The English phrase "happy belated birthday" is translated into Italian as buon compleanno in ritardo.
This phrase is used to wish someone a happy birthday after the actual date has passed. A more common and slightly more elaborate way to express this is tanti auguri di buon compleanno in ritardo.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase buon compleanno in ritardo literally translates to "good birthday in delay".
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase buon compleanno in ritardo is grammatically fixed and does not change based on the gender of the person you are addressing.
Did you know?
- While buon compleanno is standard, Italians often use tanti auguri for birthdays, which literally means 'many wishes' and can be used for any anniversary or celebration.
- The word compleanno is a linguistic hybrid, combining the Italian word for 'year', anno, with the concept of 'completing' a year of life.
- The word ritardo shares a root with the English word 'tardy', as both derive from the Latin 'tardus' meaning slow.
Examples in context
- Buon compleanno in ritardo, cara!Happy belated birthday, dear!
- Scusa, buon compleanno in ritardo!Sorry, happy belated birthday!
- Volevo solo dirti: buon compleanno in ritardo.I just wanted to say: happy belated birthday.
Example conversation
Sofia calls Alessandro to wish him a happy birthday after missing the date.
- SofiaCiao Alessandro, buon compleanno in ritardo!Hi Alessandro, happy belated birthday!
- AlessandroGrazie mille, Sofia! Sei molto gentile.Thanks a lot, Sofia! You are very kind.
- SofiaHai fatto qualcosa di speciale per festeggiare?Did you do anything special to celebrate?
- AlessandroSì, sono uscito a cena con i miei amici.Yes, I went out to dinner with my friends.
Sources
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (buon, compleanno, in, ritardo) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries compleanno, in, ritardo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
