buon compleanno a me
/ˈbwɔn kom.pleˈan.no a ˈme/word by word
The English phrase "happy birthday to me" is translated into Italian as buon compleanno a me.
This phrase is used by an individual to celebrate their own birthday.
Which one should you use?
While buon compleanno a me is a direct way to say "happy birthday to me", you can also use Tanti auguri a me!, which literally translates to "many wishes to me!"
How do you pronounce it?
It consists of 5 syllables, with the stress on the 1st syllable.
Did you know?
- If you are treating yourself to a birthday meal, you might hear the phrase offro io, meaning 'I'll pay'. In Italy, the birthday person often treats their friends rather than being treated.
- The word compleanno is a partial calque of the Spanish word cumpleaños. It blends the Spanish structure with the Italian word anno meaning 'year'.
- While buon compleanno is standard, Italians often use tanti auguri, which means 'many wishes'. This phrase is so versatile that it is used for weddings, anniversaries and graduations as well.
Examples in context
- Oggi è il mio giorno, buon compleanno a me!Today is my day, happy birthday to me!
- Un anno in più, buon compleanno a me.One year older, happy birthday to me.
- Sento di essere speciale, buon compleanno a me!I feel special, happy birthday to me!
Example conversation
Lorenzo and Chiara are having coffee at a cafe.
- LorenzoOggi è un giorno speciale per me.Today is a special day for me.
- ChiaraDavvero? Buon compleanno, Lorenzo!Really? Happy birthday, Lorenzo!
- LorenzoGrazie! Allora, buon compleanno a me!Thanks! So, happy birthday to me!
- ChiaraBrindiamo alla tua felicità!Let's toast to your happiness!
Sources
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (buon, compleanno, a, me) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries a, compleanno, me, CC BY-SA 4.0.
