Happy Birthday in German: Alles Gute zum Geburtstag and Herzlichen Glückwunsch
Happy birthday
Alles Gute zum Geburtstag
Happy birthday in German is Alles Gute zum Geburtstag, literally "all the best for the birthday". The other common wish is Herzlichen Glückwunsch zum Geburtstag, "heartfelt congratulations on the birthday". Both work with friends, family, and colleagues, and both are what you write in a card.
Before you use them, read one rule below: Germans never wish someone a happy birthday before the actual day. The list has the full wishes, the short versions, the belated wish, the words of the German birthday song, and audio for every phrase.
Ways to say happy birthday in German
The first two are the standard wishes. The short forms are for when everyone already knows what the occasion is. Nachträglich is the word you need when you are late.
| German | English | Note | Listen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alles Gute zum Geburtstag Literally "all the best for the birthday". The standard wish | Happy birthday | Literally "all the best for the birthday". The standard wish | |
| Herzlichen Glückwunsch zum Geburtstag A little more formal, common in cards | Congratulations on your birthday | A little more formal, common in cards | |
| Alles Liebe zum Geburtstag Warm, for family and close friends | Lots of love for your birthday | Warm, for family and close friends | |
| Alles Gute! Short form, when the occasion is clear | All the best! | Short form, when the occasion is clear | |
| Herzlichen Glückwunsch! Short form, also for other occasions | Congratulations! | Short form, also for other occasions | |
| Ich wünsche dir alles Gute zum Geburtstag / Ich wünsche Ihnen alles Gute zum Geburtstag Full sentence. dir is informal, Ihnen is formal | I wish you a happy birthday | Full sentence. dir is informal, Ihnen is formal | |
| Nachträglich alles Gute zum Geburtstag Nachträglich means "afterwards" | Happy belated birthday | Nachträglich means "afterwards" | |
| Zum Geburtstag viel Glück The words of the German birthday song | Happy birthday to you | The words of the German birthday song | |
| Feier schön Informal, said on the day | Have a good party | Informal, said on the day | |
| Lass dich feiern Informal, literally "let yourself be celebrated" | Enjoy being celebrated | Informal, literally "let yourself be celebrated" | |
| Auf dich! The toast when glasses are raised | To you! | The toast when glasses are raised |
How to reply to a birthday wish
A simple thank you is enough. Danke, das ist lieb adds a little warmth and is what most people say to friends.
| German | English | Note | Listen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Danke | Thank you | ||
| Vielen Dank | Many thanks | ||
| Dankeschön | Thank you very much | ||
| Danke, das ist lieb Informal and warm | Thanks, that is kind | Informal and warm |
Example sentences
Alles Gute zum Geburtstag, Lena!
Happy birthday, Lena!
Herzlichen Glückwunsch zum Geburtstag und alles Liebe.
Congratulations on your birthday and lots of love.
Nachträglich alles Gute, ich habe es leider vergessen.
Happy belated birthday, unfortunately I forgot.
Ich wünsche Ihnen alles Gute zum Geburtstag und viel Gesundheit.
I wish you a happy birthday and good health.
Feier schön und lass dich feiern!
Have a good party and enjoy being celebrated!
Wer hat heute Geburtstag? Dann gibt es Kuchen!
Whose birthday is it today? Then there is cake!
Good to know
Never before the day
In Germany it is bad luck to congratulate someone before their birthday. Many people take this seriously and will stop you if you try. Wait until the day itself, or say it afterwards with nachträglich. Being late is fine, being early is not.
The birthday person brings the cake
In a German office, the person who has a birthday brings cake or breakfast for the colleagues, not the other way around. If you work in Germany, plan for this on your own birthday.
Zum Geburtstag uses the dative
Zum is short for zu dem, and zu always takes the dative. So it is zum Geburtstag, zum Jubiläum (for the anniversary), and zur Hochzeit (for the wedding, because Hochzeit is feminine).
The German birthday song
The song is Zum Geburtstag viel Glück, zum Geburtstag viel Glück, zum Geburtstag, liebe Lena, zum Geburtstag viel Glück, sung to the English tune. Many Germans also sing the English "Happy Birthday to You", so you will hear both at a party.
Alles Gute works for many occasions
Alles Gute on its own means "all the best" and fits almost any occasion: a new job, an exam, a move, or a goodbye. Add zum plus the occasion to make it specific: Alles Gute zum neuen Job.
Pronunciation
Geburtstag is ge-BOORTS-tahk, with the stress on the second syllable and a final g that sounds like k. Glückwunsch is GLUEK-voonsh, where ü is like "ee" with rounded lips. Press play on any phrase above to hear it.
Practice with flashcards
This phrase and 120 more as cards. See the English, say the German, flip to check. Free, no signup.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you say happy birthday in German?
What does Alles Gute zum Geburtstag mean?
Is it bad luck to say happy birthday early in Germany?
How do you say happy belated birthday in German?
How do you sing happy birthday in German?
How do you say happy birthday to you in German?
Continue learning
Common German Phrases
Greetings, goodbyes, please and thank you, yes and no, and more, all with audio
German Phrases Flashcards
Drill the common phrases from English to German
Hello in German
Hello and Hi in German: Hallo, Guten Tag, and the Regional Greetings
Good morning in German
Good Morning in German: Guten Morgen, Morgen, and Moin
Thank you in German
Thank You in German: Danke, Danke schön, and Vielen Dank
Yes in German
Yes in German: Ja, Doch, Genau, and the Other Ways to Agree
No in German
No in German: Nein, Nicht, Kein, and the Casual Nee
You're welcome in German
You're Welcome in German: Bitte, Bitte schön, and Gern geschehen
How are you in German
How Are You in German: Wie geht's, Wie geht es dir, Wie geht es Ihnen
Goodbye in German
Goodbye in German: Auf Wiedersehen, Tschüss, and Bis bald
Cheers in German
Cheers in German: Prost, Zum Wohl, and Other Toasts
Please in German
Please in German: Bitte and Its Four Meanings
Good night in German
Good Night in German: Gute Nacht, Schlaf gut, and Sweet Dreams
Excuse me in German
Excuse Me in German: Entschuldigung, Entschuldigen Sie, and Verzeihung
Sorry in German
Sorry in German: Es tut mir leid, Entschuldigung, and How to Apologize
Good evening in German
Good Evening in German: Guten Abend, Schönen Abend, and Guten Tag
Welcome in German
Welcome in German: Willkommen and Herzlich willkommen
My name is in German
My Name Is in German: Ich heiße, Ich bin, and Mein Name ist
I love you in German
I Love You in German: Ich liebe dich, Ich hab dich lieb, and Mein Schatz