What does it mean word for word?
Literally, que cumplas muchos más means "that you may complete many more", where "many more" refers to the completion of more years of life.
Which one should you use?
While que cumplas muchos más is a standard way to wish someone many more years, you can also use Que tengas una vida larga to express the desire for someone to have a long life. If you want to be more expressive, Te deseo una larga vida repleta de alegría wishes someone a long life filled with joy and Espero que vivas muchos años is a direct way to hope someone lives many years.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase uses the subjunctive mood cumplas because it expresses a wish or desire rather than a statement of fact. To address someone formally, use the form que cumpla muchos más.
Did you know?
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, the phrase que cumplas muchos más is often shouted during the 'mordida' tradition, where the birthday person takes a bite of the cake.
- While cumplir in this phrase means to complete a year, it is also the primary Spanish word for 'to keep a promise'.
- Depending on the region, the wish for long life may be accompanied by the 'Las Mañanitas' song, which is specifically designed to wake the birthday person up at dawn.
Examples in context
- Que tengas una larga vida llena de amor y felicidad, María.Wishing you a long life filled with love and happiness, Maria.
- ¡Feliz cumpleaños, que cumplas muchos más!Happy birthday, may you have many more!
- Te deseo lo mejor y que cumplas muchos más.I wish you the best and many more years.
- Hoy celebramos tu vida, que cumplas muchos más.Today we celebrate your life, may you have many more.
Example conversation
Alejandro is greeting María on her birthday at a cafe.
- Alejandro¡Feliz cumpleaños, María! Que cumplas muchos más.Happy birthday, María! May you have many more.
- MaríaMuchas gracias, Alejandro. Qué amable eres.Thank you so much, Alejandro. You are so kind.
- Alejandro¿Te gusta el regalo que te traje?Do you like the gift I brought you?
- María¡Sí, me encanta! Muchas gracias.Yes, I love it! Thank you very much.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
