Ways to say it
| Jordanian Arabic | Romanization | Note |
|---|---|---|
| كل سنة وإنت سالم | kil sana w inta salim | to a man |
| عيد ميلاد سعيد | eid milad sa'eed | |
| كل سنة وإنتي سالمة | kil sana w inti salmeh | to a woman |
To a woman, say كل سنة وإنتي سالمة (kil sana w inti salmeh). عيد ميلاد سعيد (eid milad sa'eed) is the universal phrase, understood everywhere and common on cards.
What does it mean word for word?
كل سنة means 'every year' and سالم means 'safe' or 'well', so the phrase wishes safety and wellbeing on each birthday. عيد ميلاد سعيد literally means 'happy feast of birth'.
Which one should you use?
كل سنة وإنت سالم is the warmer, more local Levantine wish, used between family and friends. عيد ميلاد سعيد is more neutral and universal, fitting cards and formal messages.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Both are polite. The Levantine blessing feels closer and more personal, while عيد ميلاد سعيد suits any level of formality.
Is it said differently in some regions?
سالم/سالمة marks this as distinctly Levantine, setting it apart from the Egyptian كل سنة وانت طيب, which uses طيب, 'well', instead of سالم.
How does it change in a sentence?
سالم changes to سالمة for a woman and سالمين (salmeen) for a group being wished well together.
How do you pronounce it?
سالم is said with a clear, open first syllable, 'SA-lim', with the emphasis slightly stronger than in Standard Arabic.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Mixing in the Egyptian طيب instead of the Levantine سالم is understood thanks to shared media, but سالم is the more natural local choice in Jordan.
When do people say it?
Birthday celebrations with cake and candles are common in Jordan, and كل سنة وإنت سالم is often sung or said right before blowing out the candles.
Did you know?
- كل سنة وإنت سالم uses سالم, 'safe', instead of the Egyptian طيب, a small word choice that marks the phrase as distinctly Levantine.
- This birthday blessing follows the same reusable pattern Arabic speakers apply to other yearly occasions, simply swapping the event being celebrated.
Examples in context
- كل سنة وإنت سالم يا رفيقي.kil sana w inta salim ya rafiqi.Happy birthday, my friend.
- عيد ميلاد سعيد، الله يسعدك.eid milad sa'eed, Allah ysa'idak.Happy birthday, may God make you happy.
- كل سنة وإنتي سالمة حبيبتي.kil sana w inti salmeh habibti.Happy birthday, my dear.
Example conversation
Lina calls her friend Omar on his birthday in Amman.
- Linaكل سنة وإنت سالم يا عمر!kil sana w inta salim ya Omar!Happy birthday, Omar!
- Omarالله يسلمك، شكراً كتير.Allah yislimik, shukran kteer.Bless you, thank you so much.
- Linaشو خططك اليوم؟shu khuttatak il-yom?What are your plans today?
- Omarرايح أتعشى مع العيلة.rayih at'ashsha ma' il-'ayleh.I'm going to have dinner with the family.
