Feliz aniversário
feh-LEES ah-nee-ver-SAH-ree-oo
How to say itPart of: Celebrations
“Happy birthday.”
Feliz aniversário is happy birthday: what you write on a card or a message. In person Brazilians mostly say parabéns (“congratulations”), then add the wishes: muitas felicidades, muitos anos de vida, tudo de bom. The song, to the tune of Happy Birthday to You, begins Parabéns pra você, nesta data querida; aniversário on its own means birthday.
Looking for happy birthday, cheers and good luck? Celebrations in Portuguese: the guide
EverydayAll Brazilalso: feliz niverReply: Obrigado / obrigada!
How Brazilians use it
“Feliz aniversário, muitas felicidades!”
“Happy birthday, much happiness!”
A card or a message.
“Parabéns, Ana! Feliz aniversário!”
“Congratulations, Ana! Happy birthday!”
In person: parabéns first.
“Parabéns pra você, nesta data querida, muitas felicidades, muitos anos de vida.”
“Happy birthday to you, on this dear date, much happiness, many years of life.”
The song’s first verse.
“Feliz aniversário atrasado!”
“Happy belated birthday!”
A day late; also parabéns atrasado.
How to reply
- Obrigado / obrigada!Thanks: the only reply.
Similar expressions
- ParabénsCongratulations, and the birthday word everyone says.
- Muitas felicidadesMuch happiness: the wish that follows.
- Tudo de bomAll the best.
- Feliz ano novoHappy new year.
Brazil vs Portugal
The same words in Portugal, where the song keeps the first verse and drops the Brazilian extras (é pique, é hora, rá-tim-bum).
Common mistakes
- Don’t say feliz cumpleaños: Spanish. The Portuguese is feliz aniversário.
- Don’t think aniversário means anniversary only: in Brazil it is the word for birthday.
- Don’t skip parabéns in person: feliz aniversário is what you write, parabéns is what you say.
Frequently asked questions
What is the meaning of feliz aniversário?
Happy birthday, literally “happy anniversary”. In Brazilian Portuguese aniversário on its own means birthday, so there is no confusion.
How do Brazilians say happy birthday?
Parabéns! in person, which means congratulations and is the birthday word; feliz aniversário in writing. Then a wish: muitas felicidades, tudo de bom.
How do you reply to feliz aniversário?
Obrigado (a man) or obrigada (a woman), often obrigada, querida! or valeu! between friends.
How do you sing happy birthday in Portuguese?
Parabéns pra você, nesta data querida, muitas felicidades, muitos anos de vida, to the same tune. Brazilians add é pique, é pique…, é hora, é hora…, rá-tim-bum! and the name three times.