How to say "happy birthday" in Modern Standard Arabic
عِيدُ مِيلَادٍ سَعِيدٌ
3eed meelaad sa3eed
- Without tashkeel
- عيد ميلاد سعيد
- Franco / chat alphabet
- 3eed milad sa3eed
- Literally
- festival of birth happy
When to use it
This is the standard Modern Standard Arabic phrase for wishing someone a happy birthday. It is used in greeting cards, formal broadcasts, and written messages, though in spoken conversation people often substitute it with local dialect greetings. The phrase itself does not change based on the gender of the recipient because the adjectives modify the masculine noun for holiday.
Other ways to say it
General alternative (to a man)
كُلُّ عَامٍ وَأَنْتَ بِخَيْرٍ
kull 3aam wa anta bikhayr
May you be well every year
A very common alternative used for birthdays and all major holidays, conjugated here for a male recipient.
General alternative (to a woman)
كُلُّ عَامٍ وَأَنْتِ بِخَيْرٍ
kull 3aam wa anti bikhayr
May you be well every year
The female conjugation of the standard holiday greeting.
With direct address (to a male friend)
عِيدُ مِيلَادٍ سَعِيدٌ يَا صَدِيقِي
3eed meelaad sa3eed ya sadeeqee
Happy birthday, my friend
Used to add warmth to the standard, somewhat formal MSA phrase.
How people reply
شُكْراً جَزِيلاً
shukran jazeelan
Thank you very much
وَأَنْتَ بِخَيْرٍ
wa anta bikhayr
And may you be well (reply to a man)
In a sentence
عِيدُ مِيلَادٍ سَعِيدٌ، أَتَمَنَّى لَكَ عُمُراً مَدِيداً.
3eed meelaad sa3eed, atamanna laka 3umran madeedan.
Happy birthday, I wish you a long life.
اليَوْمُ عِيدُ مِيلَادِ أَخِي، عِيدُ مِيلَادٍ سَعِيدٌ لَهُ!
alyawmu 3eedu meelaadi akhee, 3eedu meelaadin sa3eedun lahu!
Today is my brother's birthday, happy birthday to him!
أَرْسَلَتْ لِي بِطَاقَةً مَكْتُوباً عَلَيْهَا عِيدُ مِيلَادٍ سَعِيدٌ.
arsalat lee bitaaqatan maktooban 3alayhaa 3eed meelaad sa3eed.
She sent me a card with 'Happy birthday' written on it.