alles Gute zum Geburtstag, Liebling
The English phrase "happy birthday dear" is translated into German as alles Gute zum Geburtstag, Liebling.
This phrase is used to express warm, affectionate birthday wishes to a romantic partner or a very close family member.
Which one should you use?
You may also use the informal phrase Alles Gute zum Geburtstag, lieber/süßer [First Name] to say "Happy Birthday, dear/sweet [First Name]" when addressing someone by their name. Another informal option is Herzlichen Glückwunsch zum Geburtstag, mein/e Liebe/r, which translates to "Hearty congratulations on your birthday, my love."
Did you know?
- In Germany, it is considered very bad luck to wish someone alles Gute zum Geburtstag before their actual birthday date.
- The suffix '-ling' in Liebling is an old Germanic way to turn an adjective into a noun representing a person characterized by that quality.
- If you wish to be extra affectionate, you can use the diminutive Liebchen, though this can sometimes sound slightly old-fashioned or overly sweet in modern German.
Examples in context
- Ich wünsche dir alles Gute zum Geburtstag, Liebling.I wish you a happy birthday, dear.
- Alles Gute zum Geburtstag, Liebling, du bist toll.Happy birthday, dear, you are wonderful.
Example conversation
Maximilian surprises Sarah with a small gift on her birthday morning.
- MaximilianAlles Gute zum Geburtstag, Liebling!Happy birthday, dear!
- SarahOh, danke schön, Maximilian!Oh, thank you very much, Maximilian!
- MaximilianHast du gut geschlafen?Did you sleep well?
- SarahJa, sehr gut, danke.Yes, very well, thanks.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Geburtstag, Liebling, alles, zum, CC BY-SA 4.0.
