Ways to say it
| Egyptian Arabic | Romanization | Note |
|---|---|---|
| عيد ميلاد مجيد | eid milad magid | |
| ميلاد مجيد | milad magid | short |
| كل سنة وانت طيب | kol sana w enta tayeb | general yearly wish, to a male |
| كل سنة وانتي طيبة | kol sana w enti tayba | general yearly wish, to a female |
Egyptians often shorten it to ميلاد مجيد (milad magid). Because the same words describe a birthday, people also add the general yearly wish كل سنة وانت طيب (kol sana w enta tayeb) to a man or كل سنة وانتي طيبة (kol sana w enti tayba) to a woman, the same phrase used at Eid and on birthdays.
What does it mean word for word?
عيد means 'feast', ميلاد means 'birth' and مجيد means 'glorious', so the phrase reads 'glorious feast of birth'. كل سنة means 'every year' and طيب/طيبة means 'well' or 'good'.
Which one should you use?
عيد ميلاد مجيد names the Christmas feast directly and is what Coptic Christians say to each other. كل سنة وانت طيب is the all-purpose Egyptian well-wish for any yearly occasion and often comes right alongside it.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Both are warm and work for family, friends and neighbours. There is no stiffer version for strangers, since the greeting is already respectful on its own.
Is it said differently in some regions?
Egypt's Coptic Orthodox community, one of the largest Christian populations in the Middle East, celebrates Christmas on January 7, following the old calendar, so the greeting is heard in early January rather than December.
How does it change in a sentence?
طيب changes with the person addressed: طيب to a man, طيبة to a woman and طيبين to a group.
How do you pronounce it?
مجيد is said 'magid' in Egypt, with the Cairo-style hard g sound rather than the j heard in other parts of the Arab world.
What mistakes should you avoid?
عيد ميلاد سعيد, used for birthdays, is not the Christmas greeting. Keep مجيد for the religious feast.
When do people say it?
Many Coptic families fast from animal products for weeks before Christmas and break the fast with a big meal after the midnight mass on January 6.
Did you know?
- Egypt's Copts follow the old Julian calendar for religious feasts, which is why Coptic Christmas falls on January 7 rather than December 25.
- Many Copts keep a weeks-long fast without meat, eggs or dairy before Christmas, called Kiahk, named after the Coptic month it falls in.
Examples in context
- كل سنة وانت طيب يا مينا، وميلاد مجيد.kol sana w enta tayeb ya Mina, w milad magid.Many happy returns, Mina, and merry Christmas.
- عيد ميلاد مجيد يا عائلتي الحبيبة.eid milad magid ya a'ilti l-habiba.Merry Christmas to my dear family.
- رايحين الكنيسة بعد العيد؟rayheen el-kineesa ba'd el-eid?Are you going to church after the feast?
Example conversation
Mariam calls her cousin Mina on the morning of Coptic Christmas.
- Mariamميلاد مجيد يا مينا!milad magid ya Mina!Merry Christmas, Mina!
- Minaميلاد مجيد، كل سنة وانتي طيبة.milad magid, kol sana w enti tayba.Merry Christmas, many happy returns to you too.
- Mariamهنتجمع عند مامتي بعد القداس.hanitgama' and mamti ba'd el-oddas.We'll all gather at my mom's after the mass.
- Minaتمام، أشوفك هناك.tamam, ashoofak henak.Great, I'll see you there.
