How to say "happy birthday" in Egyptian Arabic
كُلَّ سَنَة وَإِنْتَ طَيِّب
kull sana w inta tayyib
- Without tashkeel
- كل سنة وانت طيب
- Franco / chat alphabet
- kol sana w enta tayeb
- Literally
- every year and you are good
When to use it
This is the standard Egyptian greeting for birthdays, holidays, and special occasions. It is used across all social classes and levels of formality in Cairo. While '3eed meelad sa3eed' is the literal translation of happy birthday, Cairenes overwhelmingly prefer this phrase, adjusting the pronouns for gender and number.
Other ways to say it
to a woman
كُلَّ سَنَة وَإِنْتِي طَيِّبَة
kull sana w inti tayyiba
Happy birthday (to a female)
Use this when addressing a woman or girl.
to a group
كُلَّ سَنَة وَإِنْتُوا طَيِّبِين
kull sana w intu tayyibeen
Happy birthday (to a group)
Use this when addressing multiple people celebrating together.
literal translation
عِيد مِيلَاد سَعِيد
3eed meelad sa3eed
Happy birthday
A more literal translation used on cakes, greeting cards, or alongside the main phrase.
common follow-up
عُقْبَال مِيَّة سَنَة
3o2bal meyyat sana
May you reach a hundred years
A very common follow-up wish said immediately after the main birthday greeting.
How people reply
وَإِنْتَ طَيِّب
w inta tayyib
And you are good (reply to a male)
وَإِنْتِي طَيِّبَة
w inti tayyiba
And you are good (reply to a female)
وَحَضْرِتَك طَيِّب
w 7adretak tayyib
And you are good (formal reply)
In a sentence
كُلَّ سَنَة وَإِنْتَ طَيِّب يَا أَحْمَد، عُقْبَال مِيَّة سَنَة.
kull sana w inta tayyib ya a7mad, 3o2bal meyyat sana.
Happy birthday Ahmed, may you live to be a hundred.
النَّهَارْدَة عِيد مِيلَادِك؟ كُلَّ سَنَة وَإِنْتِي طَيِّبَة يَا حَبِيبْتِي!
el naharda 3eed meeladek? kull sana w inti tayyiba ya 7abibti!
Today is your birthday? Happy birthday my dear!
كُلَّ سَنَة وَإِنْتُوا طَيِّبِين يَا وِلَاد، هَنَجِيب التُّورْتَة إِمْتَى؟
kull sana w intu tayyibeen ya welad, hangeeb el torta emta?
Happy birthday boys, when are we getting the cake?