Ways to say it
| Iraqi Arabic | Romanization | Note |
|---|---|---|
| عيد ميلاد سعيد | 'id milad sa'eed | |
| كل سنة وانت طيب | kil sana w inta tayyib | to a man |
| الله يخليك | Allah ykhallik | blessing |
Iraqis also say كل سنة وانت طيب (kil sana w inta tayyib), 'every year and you are well', to a man, or وانتي طيبة (w inti tayyba) to a woman. A blessing like الله يخليك often follows.
What does it mean word for word?
عيد means 'feast', ميلاد means 'birth' and سعيد means 'happy'. كل سنة means 'every year', wishing the same wellbeing on each return of the day.
Which one should you use?
عيد ميلاد سعيد is the universal wish, understood everywhere. كل سنة وانت طيب feels warmer and more personal, closer to a blessing than a simple greeting.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Both are polite. كل سنة وانت طيب leans more affectionate and suits close friends and family best.
Is it said differently in some regions?
كل سنة وانت طيب is shared with Egyptian and other dialects through television and music, while the base greeting عيد ميلاد سعيد is pan-Arabic.
How does it change in a sentence?
طيب becomes طيبة for a woman and طيبين for a group, matching the number and gender of the people being wished well.
How do you pronounce it?
The ع at the start of عيد is a throat sound, often approximated by learners with the number 3 when typing, as in '3eed milad sa3eed'.
What mistakes should you avoid?
عيد مبارك is only for the religious Eid festivals, not for a birthday. Mixing the two phrases up is a common learner error.
When do people say it?
Birthday cakes and candles have become common in Iraqi homes, and الله يطول عمرك, 'may God lengthen your life', is often added for extra warmth.
Did you know?
- كل سنة وانت طيب follows the same formula Arabic speakers reuse for Eid and other yearly occasions, simply swapping which event is being wished well.
- الله يطول عمرك, 'may God lengthen your life', is one of the most common blessings added after a birthday wish across Iraq and the wider region.
Examples in context
- عيد ميلاد سعيد يا حبيبي!'id milad sa'eed ya habibi!Happy birthday, my dear!
- كل سنة وانت طيب يا خوية.kil sana w inta tayyib ya khuya.Happy birthday, bro.
- الله يطول عمرك ويفرحك دايماً.Allah ytawwil umrak w yfarrihak dayman.May God give you a long life and keep you happy always.
Example conversation
Hiba calls her friend Sattar on his birthday.
- Hibaعيد ميلاد سعيد يا ستار!'id milad sa'eed ya Sattar!Happy birthday, Sattar!
- Sattarمتشكر، الله يخليك.mitshakkir, Allah ykhallik.Thank you, bless you.
- Hibaكل سنة وانت طيب، شلون جاية الحفلة؟kil sana w inta tayyib, shlon jaya il-hafla?Happy birthday, how's the party coming along?
- Sattarتمام، ننطر الكل بالمسا.tamam, nintdhir il-kil bil-masa.All good, we are waiting for everyone in the evening.
