es mi cumpleaños
/es mi kumpleaɲos/from spelling rules
In Spanish, "it is my birthday" is said as es mi cumpleaños.
This phrase is used to state that today is the anniversary of the date you were born. You can use the phrase on its own or add the word Hoy (Today) to the beginning, Hoy es mi cumpleaños, which is a very common way to announce the occasion.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally translates to "it is my birthday", where es means "is", mi means "my" and cumpleaños means "birthday".
How does it change in a sentence?
The word cumpleaños is a compound noun that is always used in its plural form, even when you are referring to a single birthday.
How do you pronounce it?
/es mi kumpleaɲos/
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly try to use the verb tener (to have) to say "it is my birthday". In Spanish, you should use es (is) or es el día de… (is the day of…).
Did you know?
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, your birthday is not just a personal milestone but a day where you are often expected to provide treats for others, such as bringing sweets to school or work.
- Instead of the standard 'Happy Birthday' song, people in Mexico often sing Las Mañanitas, a traditional song that wakes the birthday person up.
- The verb cumplir used in this phrase can also mean 'to comply' or 'to meet' a requirement, creating a linguistic link between reaching an age and fulfilling an obligation.
Examples in context
- Hoy es mi cumpleaños.Today is my birthday.
- ¡No puedo creer que ya es mi cumpleaños!I can't believe it is already my birthday!
- Me emociona mucho porque hoy es mi cumpleaños.I am very excited because today is my birthday.
Example conversation
Sofía tells Alejandro the news during a coffee break.
- Sofía¡Alejandro, tengo una noticia, hoy es mi cumpleaños!Alejandro, I have news, today is my birthday!
- Alejandro¡Felicidades, Sofía! ¿Quieres ir a comer algo?Congratulations, Sofia! Do you want to go eat something?
- SofíaSí, me encantaría celebrar contigo.Yes, I would love to celebrate with you.
- AlejandroPerfecto, yo invito la comida.Perfect, lunch is on me.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
