Ways to say it
| Arabic | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| كُلُّ عَامٍ وَأَنْتُمْ بِخَيْرٍ | kullu ʕāmin wa-ʔantum bi-ḵayrin |
| عِيد مِيلَاد سَعِيد | ʕīd mīlād saʕīd |
| سَنَة حُلْوَة | sana ḥulwa |
كُلُّ عَامٍ وَأَنْتُمْ بِخَيْرٍ wishes that every year finds the person well. It is used for birthdays and also for Eid and the New Year.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally means every year and you are in good health. كُلُّ عَامٍ is every year and بِخَيْرٍ is well.
Which one should you use?
عِيد مِيلَاد سَعِيد (ʕīd mīlād saʕīd) is the direct translation of happy birthday and is common in Modern Standard Arabic and the media. سَنَة حُلْوَة (sana ḥulwa), sweet year, is a casual way to say it, often heard in songs and among friends.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
كل عام وأنت بخير! is the formal way in Modern Standard Arabic. كل سنة وأنت طيب! and سَنَة حُلْوَة are informal. عقبال المية!, may you reach a hundred, is a playful informal wish for a long life.
Is it said differently in some regions?
سنة حلوة is the birthday greeting used in Egyptian Arabic.
How does it change in a sentence?
وَأَنْتُمْ is the plural or polite you. For one man, say كُلُّ عَامٍ وَأَنْتَ بِخَيْرٍ.
How do you pronounce it?
It is read kullu ʕāmin wa-ʔantum bi-ḵayrin.
When do people say it?
Birthday wishes in Arabic often hope for many more years, as in عقبال المية! To a group you can say كل سنة وأنتم سعداء!, may every year find you all happy.
Did you know?
- While سَنَة حُلْوَة literally means 'sweet year', it is the standard phrase used in the Arabic version of the 'Happy Birthday to You' song.
- In Arabic, the word عِيد used in عِيد مِيلَاد سَعِيد refers to both a birthday and a festive holiday or feast.
- The distinction between أَنْتَ for men and أَنْتِ for women in birthday wishes is a strict grammatical requirement that must be observed even in casual speech.
Examples in context
- كُلُّ عَامٍ وَأَنْتُمْ بِخَيْرٍ يَا أَصْدِقَائِي.kullu ‘āmin wa antum bikhayr yā aṣdiqā’ī.Happy birthday, my friends.
- أَقُولُ لَكُمْ: كُلُّ عَامٍ وَأَنْتُمْ بِخَيْرٍ.aqūlu lakum: kullu ‘āmin wa antum bikhayr.I say to you all: happy birthday.
Example conversation
Maryam is celebrating Ziad's birthday at a party.
- مريم Maryamكُلُّ عَامٍ وَأَنْتُمْ بِخَيْرٍ يا زياد!Kullu ‘āmin wa-antum bikhayr ya Ziyād!Happy birthday, Ziad!
- زياد Ziadشكراً جزيلاً يا مريم.Shukran jazīlan ya Maryam.Thank you very much, Maryam.
- مريم Maryamهل أعجبتك الهدية؟Hal a‘jabatka al-hadiyya?Did you like the gift?
- زياد Ziadنعم، هي رائعة جداً.Na‘am, hiya rā’i‘a jiddan.Yes, it is very wonderful.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “happy birthday” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
