feliz cumpleaños, mi amor
/feˈliθ kumpleˈaɲos mi aˈmoɾ/word by word
The English phrase "happy birthday, love" is translated into Spanish as feliz cumpleaños, mi amor.
This phrase is a greeting used specifically to wish a romantic partner a happy birthday.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase translates literally to "happy birthday, my love", where mi amor is the standard way to express "love" as a term of endearment.
Which one should you use?
While amor is a common term of endearment, you can also express a similar level of romantic affection by using mi vida (my life) or cariño (darling).
How does it change in a sentence?
The word cumpleaños is a compound noun that remains the same in both singular and plural forms, even though it is used here in a singular context.
How do you pronounce it?
/feˈliθ kumpleˈaɲos mi aˈmoɾ/
Did you know?
- In some regions, the birthday celebration is split into two distinct events: the actual birthday and the santo, which is the celebration of the person's patron saint's day.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, the birthday person is often serenaded with Las Mañanitas instead of the standard 'Happy Birthday' song. This tradition is particularly iconic in Mexico.
- The word cumpleaños is actually a combination of a verb and a noun, meaning 'years to fulfill' or 'to fulfill years'.
Examples in context
- Te deseo un feliz cumpleaños, mi amor.I wish you a happy birthday, my love.
- ¡Feliz cumpleaños, mi amor, te quiero mucho!Happy birthday, my love, I love you very much!
Example conversation
Lucía gives Mateo a small gift in their living room.
- Lucía¡Feliz cumpleaños, mi amor!Happy birthday, my love!
- MateoMuchas gracias, eres la mejor.Thank you so much, you are the best.
- Lucía¿Te gusta el regalo?Do you like the gift?
- MateoMe encanta, gracias de verdad.I love it, thank you truly.
Sources
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (feliz, cumpleaños, mi, amor) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries amor, cumpleaños, feliz, mi, CC BY-SA 4.0.
