Expressions · Brazilian Portuguese
Happy birthday, congratulations and cheers in Portuguese
“Happy birthday” in Portuguese is feliz aniversário, but Brazilians mostly just say parabéns! (“congratulations”). “Cheers” is saúde. “Good luck” is boa sorte.
45 phrases with audio · Questions
The phrases everyone needs
| Listen | Portuguese | English | When |
|---|---|---|---|
| feliz aniversário | happy birthday | what you write on a card | |
| parabéns | congratulations; happy birthday | what everyone says, for a birthday and everything else | |
| muitas felicidades | much happiness | the wish after parabéns | |
| muitos anos de vida | many years of life | the birthday wish, and a line of the song | |
| tudo de bom | all the best | any good wish | |
| saúde | cheers; bless you | raising a glass; after a sneeze | |
| tim-tim | cheers (the clink) | as the glasses touch | |
| um brinde | a toast | um brinde a… to raise a glass to someone | |
| boa sorte | good luck | before anything that could go either way | |
| boa prova | good luck in the exam | before a test | |
| feliz ano novo | happy new year | from the 31st on | |
| boas festas | season’s greetings | Christmas and New Year together | |
| meus parabéns | my congratulations | a little warmer | |
| felicidades aos noivos | happiness to the couple | a wedding |
Happy birthday in Portuguese
Feliz aniversário (feh-LEES ah-nee-ver-SAH-ree-oo) is the dictionary answer and it is what you write on a card. In person, Brazilians say parabéns! (pah-rah-BAYNGS), which means congratulations and is the birthday word: Parabéns, Ana! Then come the wishes: muitas felicidades (much happiness), muitos anos de vida (many years of life), tudo de bom (all the best), saúde e paz (health and peace), que todos os seus sonhos se realizem (may all your dreams come true). Happy belated birthday: parabéns atrasado. “Birthday boy / girl”: aniversariante.
To a woman, to a man, to a friend
Parabéns and feliz aniversário don’t change. The wishes do if they have an adjective: muito querida / querido, minha amiga / meu amigo. Parabéns, minha amiga, tudo de bom pra você!
Pronunciation
parabéns pah-rah-BAYNGS · feliz aniversário feh-LEES ah-nee-ver-SAH-ree-oo · saúde sah-OO-jee · tim-tim cheeng-CHEENG · boa sorte BOH-ah SOR-chee · feliz ano novo feh-LEES AH-noo NOH-voo · boas festas BOH-ahs FES-tahs. The stress falls on the syllable in capitals. The éns of parabéns is nasal, and the final de of saúde and te of sorte sound like “jee” and “chee” in most of Brazil; the pronunciation guide has both. Press play on any row above to hear each one.
All the ways to say it
The Brazilian birthday song, with lyrics
To the same tune as “Happy Birthday to You”: Parabéns pra você, nesta data querida, muitas felicidades, muitos anos de vida. Then come the parts only Brazilians sing: É pique, é pique, é pique, é pique, é pique! É hora, é hora, é hora, é hora, é hora! Rá-tim-bum! and the name three times, and the question-and-answer Com quem será, com quem será, com quem será que a Ana vai casar? Pique is energy (“hip hip”), rá-tim-bum a drum roll. The cake is cut after the song, and the first slice goes to the person you love most.
Parabéns pra vocêHappy birthday to you
line one; pra is para, as everyone sings it
nesta data queridaon this dear date
line two
muitas felicidadesmuch happiness
line three; also a wish on its own
muitos anos de vidamany years of life
line four, where the tune ends
É pique, é pique, é pique, é pique, é pique!Hip hip! (literally “it’s energy”)
shouted, with the rhythm; Brazil only
É hora, é hora, é hora, é hora, é hora!It’s time! (to cut the cake)
the second shout
Rá-tim-bum!(a drum roll)
then the name, three times: Ana! Ana! Ana!
Com quem será que a Ana vai casar?Who will Ana marry?
the teasing verse, sung three times; the answer is shouted back
Com quem será, com quem será, com quem será que a Ana vai casar?Who could it be, who could it be, who could it be that Ana will marry?
Congratulations
Parabéns again, for everything: a new job, a baby, a win. Meus parabéns is a little warmer; parabéns pela formatura / pelo casamento / pelo bebê / pela promoção names the reason. Weddings: felicidades aos noivos (happiness to the couple), muitas felicidades. Graduations: parabéns, formando / formanda. A compliment on work: mandou bem! (nailed it), arrasou! (you killed it; slang).
parabénscongratulations
for anything; the reply is obrigado / obrigada
Parabéns pelo novo emprego!Congratulations on the new job!
meus parabénsmy congratulations
a little warmer, a little more formal
Meus parabéns, você mereceu.My congratulations, you deserved it.
parabéns pela formaturacongratulations on graduating
pela before a feminine noun, pelo before a masculine one
Parabéns pela formatura, doutora!Congratulations on graduating, doctor!
parabéns pelo bebêcongratulations on the baby
a birth
Parabéns pelo bebê, que ele venha com muita saúde!Congratulations on the baby, may he come in good health!
felicidades aos noivoshappiness to the newlyweds
a wedding toast or card
Felicidades aos noivos! Que seja para sempre.Happiness to the newlyweds! May it be forever.
mandou bemnailed it
a compliment on work, between friends and colleagues
Mandou bem na apresentação!You nailed the presentation!
arrasouyou killed it
slang; warm, a little dramatic
Arrasou no show, amiga!You killed it at the show, girl!
Cheers
Saúde! (sah-OO-jee, “health”), tim-tim! (the clink), um brinde a… (a toast to…). Saúde is also what you say when someone sneezes. Brazilians look you in the eye and clink glasses; some tap the glass on the table after.
Good luck
Boa sorte! (BOH-ah SOR-chee). Before an exam: boa prova!; before a trip: boa viagem!; before a performance Brazilians say merda! like the French (never “quebra a perna”); in general: vai dar tudo certo (it’ll all work out), estou torcendo por você (I’m rooting for you), sucesso!
boa sortegood luck
anything that could go either way
Boa sorte na entrevista amanhã!Good luck in the interview tomorrow!
boa provagood luck in the exam
before a test; literally “good exam”
Boa prova! Você estudou, vai dar certo.Good luck in the exam! You studied, it’ll be fine.
boa viagemsafe travels
before a trip
Boa viagem, manda fotos!Safe travels, send photos!
merda!break a leg (literally the French word)
theatre and shows only; never “boa sorte” backstage
Merda pra todo mundo, a cortina abre em cinco!Break a leg, everyone, curtain in five!
vai dar tudo certoit’ll all work out
reassurance before something hard
Respira. Vai dar tudo certo.Breathe. It’ll all work out.
estou torcendo por vocêI’m rooting for you
warm support; tô torcendo in speech
Tô torcendo por você, me conta depois!I’m rooting for you, tell me how it goes!
sucesso!all the best, go well
closing a message before something new
Sucesso na nova fase!All the best in the new chapter!
Happy New Year, and the holidays
Feliz ano novo!, próspero ano novo, boas festas (season’s greetings, covers Christmas and New Year), feliz Natal (the Christmas page has it in full), Réveillon (what Brazilians call New Year’s Eve: white clothes, jumping seven waves). Feliz Páscoa (Easter), feliz Dia das Mães (Mother’s Day, the second Sunday of May).
feliz ano novohappy new year
from the 31st on, for a week or two
Feliz ano novo! Que 2027 seja incrível.Happy new year! May 2027 be amazing.
próspero ano novoa prosperous new year
the card version; often with feliz Natal
Feliz Natal e próspero ano novo!Merry Christmas and a prosperous new year!
boas festasseason’s greetings
December, covering both holidays
Boas festas pra você e sua família!Season’s greetings to you and your family!
RéveillonNew Year’s Eve
the party itself; from French, said the Brazilian way
Vamos passar o Réveillon em Copacabana.We’re spending New Year’s Eve in Copacabana.
feliz Páscoahappy Easter
Easter Sunday
Feliz Páscoa! Ganhou muito chocolate?Happy Easter! Did you get lots of chocolate?
feliz Dia das Mãeshappy Mother’s Day
the second Sunday of May in Brazil
Feliz Dia das Mães, mãe. Te amo.Happy Mother’s Day, mum. I love you.
Formal vs informal at a glance
| Situation | Listen | Say | Avoid |
|---|---|---|---|
| In person, a birthday | parabéns!, tudo de bom | felicitações: it exists; nobody says it | |
| A card or a message | feliz aniversário, muitas felicidades | feliz cumpleaños: Spanish | |
| Work: a promotion, a win | parabéns pela promoção, sucesso | arrasou, unless you’re close | |
| A wedding | felicidades aos noivos | boa sorte: it sounds like they’ll need it |
Brazil vs Portugal
Portugal also says parabéns and feliz aniversário; the song is the same first verse without é pique. Mandou bem, arrasou and the Réveillon traditions are Brazilian.
Common mistakes
- Feliz cumpleaños: Spanish. The Portuguese is feliz aniversário, and in person, parabéns.
- Felicitações as the everyday word. It exists; nobody says it.
- Salud for cheers: Spanish. In Portuguese, saúde.
- Using parabéns as “thank you”. It is the other way round: parabéns gets obrigado back.
In real Brazilian books
“— Sinhazinha! Sinhazinha! Parabéns! Parabéns!...”“Receberam-me com parabéns.”“Toda a mesa deu parabéns a D. Felismina, que sorriu com desdém, mas interiormente esperançada.”Questions
How do Brazilians say happy birthday?
Parabéns! is what everyone says; feliz aniversário is what you write. Then a wish: muitas felicidades or tudo de bom.
Does parabéns mean congratulations?
Yes, and it is also the normal birthday greeting. One word covers “happy birthday” and “congratulations”.
What does feliz aniversário mean in Brazil?
Happy birthday, literally “happy anniversary”. Aniversário on its own means birthday in Brazilian Portuguese.
How do you sing happy birthday in Brazilian Portuguese?
Parabéns pra você, nesta data querida, muitas felicidades, muitos anos de vida, then É pique, é pique…, É hora, é hora…, Rá-tim-bum! and the name three times. Audio and full lyrics above.
How do you wish a friend a happy birthday in Portuguese?
Parabéns, minha amiga / meu amigo! Tudo de bom pra você! or Feliz aniversário, muitas felicidades!
How do you congratulate someone in Portuguese?
Parabéns! or meus parabéns!, and name the reason with pela / pelo: parabéns pela formatura.
How do you say cheers in Portuguese?
Saúde! Also tim-tim for the clink, and um brinde a… for a toast.
How do you pronounce saúde?
“sah-OO-jee”. The ú carries the stress and the final de sounds like “jee” in Brazil.
How do you say good luck in Brazil?
Boa sorte! Before an exam, boa prova; before a show, merda!, like the French; to encourage, vai dar tudo certo.
What is the correct way to say Happy New Year in Portuguese?
Feliz ano novo! or próspero ano novo. Boas festas covers Christmas and New Year together; the Christmas page has feliz Natal and the rest.
Entries in this group
- Feliz aniversário
Feliz aniversário is happy birthday: what you write on a card or a message.
- Saúde
Saúde means health, and it is what Brazilians say raising a glass (cheers!) and after someone sneezes (bless you).
- Feliz ano novo
Feliz ano novo is happy new year, said from the 31st for a week or two into January.
- Boa sorte
Boa sorte is good luck, said before anything that could go either way: an exam, an interview, a match.
- Parabéns
Brazilians use parabéns to congratulate someone on an achievement or happy event.
Next
- Merry Christmas in Portuguese
Feliz Natal, boas festas and Christmas in Brazil, with the free printables.
- Thank you in Portuguese
Obrigado or obrigada: what you answer when someone says parabéns.
- I love you in Portuguese
The wishes to a loved one: meu amor, querida, te amo.
- Hello in Portuguese
Oi, bom dia, tudo bem: the greetings before the parabéns.
- Every group of expressions
Greetings, thanks, goodbyes, please and sorry, yes and no, celebrations, affection and slang.
Meet these phrases in real Brazilian stories
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