Ways to say it
| Palestinian Arabic | Romanization | Note |
|---|---|---|
| عيد ميلاد سعيد | eid milad sa'id | |
| كل سنة وانت طيب | kil sana w inta tayyeb | to a man |
| كل سنة وانتي طيبة | kil sana w inti tayybe | to a woman |
Just as common is the yearly blessing كل سنة وانت طيب (kil sana w inta tayyeb) to a man, or كل سنة وانتي طيبة (kil sana w inti tayybe) to a woman, literally 'every year and you are well'.
What does it mean word for word?
عيد ميلاد سعيد joins 'feast', 'birth' and 'happy'. كل سنة وانت طيب is a yearly wish said on birthdays and other happy occasions alike.
Which one should you use?
عيد ميلاد سعيد names the birthday directly. كل سنة وانت طيب is more of a general yearly blessing, so it needs the context of a birthday to be understood that way.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Both are warm and informal, used with family and close friends.
Is it said differently in some regions?
Both phrases are shared across the Levant and much of the Arab world.
How does it change in a sentence?
كل سنة وانت طيب changes with the gender of the person: طيب to a man, طيبة to a woman.
How do you pronounce it?
سعيد stresses the second syllable: 'sa-EED'.
What mistakes should you avoid?
عيد مبارك (eid mubarak) is for religious holidays, not birthdays. Keep it for Eid, not for a birthday.
When do people say it?
Birthday songs in Palestinian homes often mix the English 'Happy Birthday' tune with Arabic words, especially for children's parties.
Did you know?
- كل سنة وانت طيب is used for birthdays, Eid and nearly every yearly celebration, so Palestinians rely on context to know which occasion is meant.
- Many Palestinian families still bake a home cake rather than buy one, especially for children's birthdays in smaller towns.
Examples in context
- عيد ميلاد سعيد يا سارة!eid milad sa'id ya Sara!Happy birthday, Sara!
- كل سنة وانت طيب، الله يخليك.kil sana w inta tayyeb, allah ykhallik.Happy birthday, God keep you.
- شو بتحب كهدية؟shu bthebb ka hadiyye?What would you like as a gift?
Example conversation
Nour calls her friend Samer on his birthday.
- Nourعيد ميلاد سعيد يا سامر!eid milad sa'id ya Samer!Happy birthday, Samer!
- Samerالله يخليكي، شكرا كتير.allah ykhallik, shukran ktir.Thank you so much.
- Nourكل سنة وانت طيب.kil sana w inta tayyeb.Happy birthday, every year.
- Samerوانتي كذلك يا نور.w inti kaman ya Nour.Same to you, Nour.
