Learn how to wish someone happy birthday in Italian and to respond when someone wishes you the same. “Tanti auguri!” is the traditional way to say happy birthday in Italy and it literally means “many wishes.” You can also use other phrases such as “Auguri di buon compleanno,” which translates to “happy birthday wishes,” or “Buon compleanno!” which means “happy birthday.”
Traditionally in Italy, birthdays are celebrated with a cake and the singing of the well-known Italian tune “Tanti Auguri a Te.” The English title for this song is “Happy Birthday to You.” People gather around the birthday person and sing the song, accompanied by gifts and candles. After that, people usually say “auguri di cuore” which means “all my best wishes.”
How to say happy birthday in Italian: Buon Compleanno?
The direct translation of "happy birthday" in Italian is actually "Buon Compleanno!"
Buon Compleanno means "happy birthday" in Italian. It is the most commonly used phrase to say happy birthday and it can be used for any age.
Buon compleanno!= Happy birthday!
Buon compleanno, bella!= Happy birthday, beautiful (for women)
Buon compleanno, cara!= Happy birthday, dear (for women)
Buon compleanno amico mio /amica mia= Happy birthday, my friend (male / female)
How to say happy birthday in Italian: Tanti Auguri?
Another way to wish someone happy birthday in Italian is "Tanti Auguri!"
Tanti Auguri literally means “many wishes” and it can be used as a more formal or traditional way to say happy birthday. It is also appropriate for any age group.
This actually only translates to 'many wishes', and is the same phrase used to say Merry Christmas. Nevertheless, it has become a customary way of offering birthday well-wishes, as the intention behind the greeting is abundantly clear!
The different ways to use Tanti Auguri in a sentence is:
Tanti Auguri!= Many Wishes
Tantissimi auguri!= Very many wishes
Tanti auguri di buon compleanno! = Many wishes of a happy birthday
Auguroni!= Big wishes (informal)
You can even add cara, caro, amico/a mia, tesoro, carissimo/a etc to the end of the sentences
Cara= dear (for a woman)
Caro = dear (for a man)
Amico/a mia = My friend
Tesoro= Treasure
Carissimo/a = Very Dear
Other Italian ways to say happy birthday
As well as the two main phrases, there are a few other Italian expressions you can use to wish someone happy birthday.
Auguri! = Congratulations/Best wishes
Un anno di gioia e felicità! = A year of joy and happiness!
Che tu possa essere benedetto/a! = May you be blessed
Un giorno pieno di sorrisi e felicità! = A day full of smiles and happiness!
Che tu possa avere un grande compleanno! = May you have a great birthday!
Tutto il meglio per te oggi! = All the best for you today!
Che tu possa trascorrere un giorno speciale! = May you have a special day.
Buon compleanno con tanto amore! = Happy birthday with lots of love.
Viva il tuo compleanno! = Long live your birthday!
Tanti auguri per un futuro luminoso e ricco di successo! = Many wishes for a bright future and lots of success.
What birthday song do they sing in italy?
In Italy, the traditional birthday song is called "Tanti Auguri a Te" ("Many Wishes to You"), and it translates to the English version of “Happy Birthday to You.”
The song is usually sung by family and friends around the cake as they gather together in celebration. It's a great way to celebrate the birthday person!
Tanti auguri a te, (happy birthday to you)
Tanti auguri a te, (happy birthday to you)
Tanti auguri a/caro/cara [sing name of the person] (happy birthday dear...)
Tanti auguri a te (happy birthday to you)
How to respond to happy birthday in Italian
The response to someone wishing you happy birthday in Italy is “Grazie!” which means “Thank you!”
You can also respond with “Grazie mille!” which is a more formal way of saying “Thank you very much!”
This phrase is used to express gratitude in an especially emphatic way.
Typical birthday traditions in Italy
In Italy, birthdays are typically celebrated with friends and family gathering around the birthday person. The cake is very important in the Italian birthday tradition and it's usually accompanied by the traditional song “Tanti Auguri a Te”.
People also exchange gifts and sing happy birthday while they blow out the candles on the cake. No matter the language, wishing someone a happy birthday is definitely an act of kindness that can make anyone's day brighter! So, from me to you: Buon Compleanno!! Tanti Auguri !
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