“Alles Gute zum Geburtstag”
Happy birthday
GreetingsGeneralA1
Literal Translation
Word for word: “All good to the birthday”
Pronunciation
/ˈaləs ˈɡuːtə tsʊm ɡəˈbuːɐ̯tsˌtaːk/
When to Use This Phrase
In Germany, wishing someone a happy birthday before the actual day is considered bad luck, so wait until the day itself (or until midnight, if you're celebrating into it). At work, it's often the birthday person who brings the cake.
Example Sentences
Alles Gute zum Geburtstag, Lena!
Happy birthday, Lena!
Alles Gute zum 30. Geburtstag und viel Glück im neuen Lebensjahr!
Happy 30th birthday, and all the best for the year ahead!
Word Breakdown
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