Inklingo

How to Say "happy birthday" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “happy birthday” is “felicidades” — use 'felicidades' as a general congratulatory exclamation, often followed by 'por tu cumpleaños' when specifically wishing someone a happy birthday.

English → Spanish

felicidades

feh-lee-see-DAH-desfeliθiˈðaðes

interjectionA1
Use 'felicidades' as a general congratulatory exclamation, often followed by 'por tu cumpleaños' when specifically wishing someone a happy birthday.
A simplistic golden trophy sitting on a small pedestal, being showered by brightly colored confetti, symbolizing congratulations and achievement.

Examples

¡Felicidades por tu cumpleaños!

Happy birthday!

¡Felicidades por tu nuevo trabajo!

Congratulations on your new job!

Hoy es el cumpleaños de mi hermana. ¡Felicidades!

Today is my sister's birthday. Happy birthday!

Ganaste el premio, ¡muchas felicidades!

You won the prize, many congratulations!

Always Plural

Even when congratulating one person, this word is always used in its plural form, ending in -s.

Using 'Feliz' instead

Mistake: “Using '¡Feliz!' to mean 'Congratulations.'”

Correction: Use '¡Felicidades!' for congratulations. 'Feliz' is an adjective meaning 'happy' and needs a noun, like 'Feliz cumpleaños' (Happy birthday).

hb

ah-che-beˌatʃe ˈβe

nounA1informal
Use 'hb' as a very informal, abbreviated greeting specifically for social media or text messages, similar to 'hbd' in English.
A colorful birthday cake with lit candles and bright balloons.

Examples

¡hb! Que cumplas muchos más.

Happy birthday! May you have many more.

Feliz hb para tu hermano.

Happy birthday to your brother.

No pude ir a tu hb, lo siento.

I couldn't go to your birthday (party), I'm sorry.

Borrowed from English

This is an 'Anglicism'—a term borrowed from English 'Happy Birthday.' Even though the Spanish words are 'Feliz Cumpleaños,' many people use the English letters.

Gender and Number

When used as a noun (the event), it is masculine (el hb) because it replaces 'el cumpleaños,' which is masculine.

Confusing the meaning

Mistake: “Sending 'hb' as a greeting on a normal day.”

Correction: Make sure you check the date! Outside of specific regions, this only means Happy Birthday.

Choosing Between 'Felicidades' and 'HB'

The most common mistake is using the very informal abbreviation 'hb' in situations that call for a more standard greeting. 'Felicidades' is a safe and widely understood option for most birthday wishes, while 'hb' should be reserved for casual online interactions.

Related Translations

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