Chances are you’re here because you want to wish a friend a happy birthday in Italian in a way that your message will be well received.
In Italy, we love to celebrate special occasions and anniversaries, so learning how to say happy birthday is essential if you want to have a great social life.compiere in Italian, and, of course, sing the Happy birthday song in Italian, a must for every party.
And, if that’s not enough, we’re also going to learn about some Italian birthday traditions and FAQs.
Let’s get started!
How to say "Happy Birthday!" in Italian
There are two main ways of wishing someone a happy birthday in Italian:
• Buon compleanno!
This literally translates as "good birthday" and it can be used on its own or in combination with:
• Tanti auguri!
which means many wishes. You could say, for example:
• Tanti auguri di buon compleanno!
Many wishes for a good birthday!
Of course, there are many variants of these phrases too. Let’s see some of them.
English
Italian
Italian pronunciation
Happy birthday!
Buon compleanno!
Boo-on com-pleh-ann-noh!
Happy birthday!
Tanti auguri!
Tahn-tee ah-oo-gooh-ree!
Belated happy birthday!
Auguri in ritardo!
Ah-oo-gooh-ree een ree-tar-doh
Thanks for being born!
Grazie di esistere!
Grah-tsee-eh dee eh-zee-steh-reh!
Happy birthday my love.
Buon compleanno, amore mio.
Boo-on com-pleh-ann-noh, ah-moh-reh mee-oh
Happy birthday, brother/sister/mom/dad.
Buon compleanno, fratello/sorella/mamma/papà.
Boo-on com-pleh-ann-noh, frah-tell-oh/soh-rell-ah/mahm-mah/pah-pàh
Happy birthday grandma/grandpa.
Buon compleanno, nonna/nonno.
Boo-on com-pleh-ann-noh, john-nah/nohn-noh
One hundred more of these days!
Cento di questi giorni!
Chen-toh dee kwess-tee jor-nee
Wishing you a very happy birthday!
Tanti auguri di buon compleanno!
Tahn-tee ah-oo-gooh-ree dee boo-on com-pleh-ann-noh
Happy birthday my friend.
Buon compleanno amico/a mio/a.
Boo-on com-pleh-ann-noh, ah-mee-koh/ah-mee-kah mee-oh/mee-ah
Best birthday wishes to you!
I migliori auguri di buon compleanno!
Ee mee-llyoh-ree ah-oo-goo-ree dee com-pleh-ann-noh
Happy birthday beautiful!
Buon compleanno, bello/a!
Boo-on com-pleh-ann-noh, bell-oh/bell-ah!
Happy 21st/ 30th/40th/50th etc. birthday
Buon 21esimo/30esimo compleanno
Boo-on vehn-too-neh-zee-moh com-pleh-ann-noh
Hope all your wishes come true!
Spero che tutti i tuoi desideri si avverino!
Speh-roh keh too-tee ee too-oh-ee deh-zee-deh-ree see ah-veh-ree-noh
I wish you a happy birthday!
Ti auguro un buon compleanno!
Tee ah-oo-goo-roh oon boo-on com-pleh-ann-noh
Happy birthday, have a good one!
Buon compleanno, divertiti!
Boo-on com-pleh-ann-noh, dee-verr-tee-tee
Auguri is translated as "wishes" and it can be used for other special occasions, too.
• Auguri di Buon Natale
Merry Christmas
• Auguri di Buon Anno
Happy New Year
• Auguri per la festa del papà
Happy Father's Day
"When is your birthday?" and the verb compiere in Italian
If you’re talking about birthdays, it’s good to know the verb compiere (com-pyeh-reh) in Italian, which means "to turn" (referred to years).
Here’s the conjugation of compiere:
• Io compio (com-pyoh)
• Tu compi (com-peeh)
• Lui/lei compie (com-pyeh)
• Noi compiamo (com-pyah-moh)
• Voi compiete (com-pyeh-te)
• Loro compiono (com-pyoh-noh)
When you ask someone when their birthday is in Italian, you need to use this verb:
• Quando compi gli anni?
(When is your birthday? - Lit. "When do you turn years?")
• Compio gli anni il 24 giugno.
(It is on the 24th of June. - Lit. "I turn years on the 24th of June.)
Here are some more useful expressions that you can learn to ask and talk about birthdays:
English
Italian
Italian pronunciation
When is your birthday?
Quand’è il tuo compleanno?
Kwan-dèh eel too-oh com-pleh-ann-noh
My birthday is…
Il mio compleanno è il …
Eel mee-oh com-pleh-ann-noh èh
How old do you turn?
Quanti anni compi?
Kwan-tee ahn-nee com-pee?
I turn…
Ne compio…
Neh com-pee-oh…
How old are you?
Quanti anni hai?
Kwan-tee ann-nee ah-ee?
I am…
Ho … anni.
Oh … ann-nee
What year were you born?
Di che anno sei?
Dee keh ann-noh seh-ee
I was born in…
Sono del…
Soh-noh dell…
You don’t show them!
Non li dimostri!
Non lee dee-most-ree
You carry them well!
Li porti bene!
Lee por-tee beh-neh
You look younger!
Sembri più giovane!
Sem-bree pee-ooh joh-vah-neh
What would you like for your birthday?
Cosa vuoi per il tuo compleanno?
Coh-sah voo-oh-ee per eel too-oh com-pleh-ann-noh
The birthday boy/girl
Il festeggiato / la festeggiata
Eel fess-teh-jah-toh
The present
Il regalo
Eel reh-gah-loh
The cake
La torta
Lah torr-tah
The candles
Le candeline
Leh can-deh-lee-neh
To blow the candles
Spegnere le candeline
Spe-nyeh-re leh can-deh-lee-neh
To make a wish
Esprimere un desiderio
Ess-pree-meh-reh oon deh-zee-deh-ree-oh
To make a toast
Fare un brindisi
Fah-reh oon breen-dee-zee
Birthday party
Festa di compleanno
Fess-tah dee com-pleh-ann-noh
Surprise party
Festa a sorpresa
Fess-tah ah sor-preh-zah
To celebrate a birthday
Festeggiare il compleanno
Fess-teh-jah-reh eel com-pleh-ann-noh
To wish a happy birthday
Fare gli auguri di compleanno
Fah-reh lly ah-oo-goo-ree dee com-pleh-ann-noh
To pull the ears
Tirare le orecchie*
Tee-rah-reh leh oh-rek-kyeh
*more on this in the "Italian birthday traditions" section
Happy birthday in Italian song with lyrics
What kind of birthday would it be if you don’t sing a birthday song for the festeggiato?
In Italian, the classic birthday song "happy birthday to you" uses the expression "tanti auguri a te", and not "buon compleanno"!
It goes like this:
Tanti auguri a te,
Tanti auguri a te,
Tanti auguri (name)
Tanti auguri a te!
Tanti Auguri
This isn’t a specific birthday song; in fact, it is often sung at graduations or other parties, but if you find yourself at a birthday party, it might well come up, and if you know it, sing along!
Happy birthday in Italian lyrics goes like this:
Perché è un bravo ragazzo, (For he’s a jolly good fellow x3)
Perché è un bravo ragazzo,
Perché è un bravo ragazzo….
Nessuno lo può negar! (Which nobody can deny!)
How to write a happy birthday card message in Italian
On a birthday card in Italian you can let your creativity loose. You can keep things simple and just say "auguri", or you can praise the person’s qualities and virtues before wishing them a good life with the super classic: cento di questi giorni. (A hundred of these days.)
If you want to wish someone something, you can use the expression ti auguro… which literally means "I wish for you…/ I hope"
• Ti auguro di raggiungere tutti i tuoi obiettivi!
I hope you can reach all your objectives!
• Ti auguro tanto amore e felicità!
I wish you a lot of love and happiness.
At the end of the card, you can repeat Buon compleanno! and send them a hug (un abbraccio), a kiss (un bacio) or love (con amore).
Italian birthday traditions
Here are some traditions of an Italian compleanno. Some might be common in other countries, but others are a bit more unique!
• Non fare gli auguri in anticipo
Don’t say happy birthday in advance! This might sound strange, but Italians find it is bad luck to tell someone happy birthday in advance. It is better to be late than early in this case!
• La torta di compleanno
Of course, there is no birthday without a cake! In Italy, it is usually the festeggiato/a who picks it or makes it
• Spegnere le candeline
When the cake is served, of course, all the lights will go off and the candles lit. The birthday boy or girl will have to blow them and…
• Esprimere un desiderio
At the moment you blow out the candles, remember to think about your birthday wish (but don’t say it out loud!)
• Tirare le orecchie
This is probably the weirdest Italian birthday tradition… We pull the festeggiato/a’s earlobes as many times as the age they’re turning, sometimes counting out loud, and with various degrees of pain, based on your relationship to the guest of honor!
• Offrire da bere / da mangiare
In many countries, you get treated to food and drinks on your birthday. In Italy, it is the opposite! If the birthday girl or boy invites guests out for drinks, she or he is expected to pay for everyone!
• Compiere 18 anni
Turning 18 is the biggest milestone in terms of Italian birthdays. When you’re a teenager, that’s a big deal. You will now be maggiorenne (of age) and therefore able to get your driving license, travel abroad without special arrangements and get drinks in bars and pubs!
Italian happy birthday: what you need to know
1. Should happy birthday be capitalized in Italian?
Il mio compleanno, che è il 25 gennaio, quest’anno cade di lunedì.
My birthday, which is on the 25th of January, this year falls on a Monday.
2. Should you text your ex happy birthday?
Well, in Italy it is actually quite common to stay friends with ex-partners, and even a simple tanti auguri can show you remember them kindly. I’d say, why not?!
3. Is it better to say "tanti auguri" or "buon compleanno?"
There is no difference really between the two expressions. If you’re not sure which one you want to use, just combine them, as we showed above: tanti auguri di buon compleanno!
Cento di questi giorni…
Now you'll be able to wish someone special a happy birthday in Italian, celebrate and sing with your friends, and enjoy some birthday cake.
Remember, practicing is key when learning Italian, so go out there and ask all the native speakers you know to tell you about their Italian birthdays, and don’t be afraid of making mistakes, sbagliando s’impara!
Auguri!
Best Birthday Wishes For Male Friend: Being best friends with a man's best friend is a blessing. He cares for you like a friend would and guards you as a brother would. “Happy Birthday, Male Friend” isn't enough on his birthday. If you're looking for birthday greetings for a guy buddy, here are several that are sure to make him smile! Male Best Friend's Birthday Greetings: You may want to wish your boyfriend's best friend a happy birthday today. It's customary to send birthday greetings to our male pals. These birthday greetings for a guy's best friend can help to keep your bond strong.
The finest birthday greetings for a best friend's son might be difficult to come by at times. Don't worry, we'll be looking at Birthday Wishes for Best Friend Male that you may send him. Happy Birthday Wishes for a Male Friend might be hard to come by.
♥ Today is your special day, so I am sending the warmest wishes your way. I hope the coming years bring you joy and contentment. Happy Birthday!
♥ On this happy day, I am sending thousands of wishes and blessings your way. I hope you get whatever you have desired in your life. Have a blast on your birthday!
♥ God didn’t bless me with a brother so I found one myself. We are truly partners in crime and I hope we stay like this forever. Happy Birthday!
♥ Today is the day you can into this world. I cherish every moment I have spent with you. Happy birthday, dear friend!
♥ I hope this day is full of joy, laughter, and unforgettable happy memories. Have a wonderful birthday, my buddy!
Happy Birthday Male Friend
♥ Happy birthday dear friend. May all your dreams come true and you prosper in life. Have a blast!
♥ Happy birthday to the man who has always been there for me as a friend and protected me like a brother. You are truly a gem!
♥ Having a best friend like you is nothing but a blessing of God. You have been my rock since day one. Have a happy birthday.
♥ Hey friend, that’s for always being there for me. I know would have been a mess without you! Happy Birthday.
♥ It has been [Add Number] years that you have been on this planet but you started living when I came into your life, right? Happy birthday, bro!
♥ May this day be filled with good things in life and may you be able to fulfill your wishes. Happy birthday!
♥ I wish you a lovely day full of good luck. Happy birthday!
♥ This is the time to sit, relax, and enjoy with no questions asked. Have a wonderful birthday my friend.
♥ I wish you a good birthday ever my friend.
♥ The worst part of being friends is that everything becomes boring when you leave. Happy birthday, friend!
♥ The best thing in my life is having you are my friend. Happy birthday to you my best friend!
Birthday Wishes For Male Friends
♥ I am thanking God that he sent you in this world and then in my life. I am so grateful to know a guy like you. Happy Birthday!
♥ It is finally your birthday and I know you are going to have a blast. I wish I could be there to share all the fun with you. Have a good time!
♥ Happy birthday to the guy who has filled my life with laughter and positivity. May you have many more!
♥ You are the person I have received the most help and love from. Thanks for always being by my side, buddy. Happy birthday!
♥ May you have a long, healthy, and happy life that is full of excitement, surprises, and fulfillment. Happy birthday, pal!
♥ Hey friend, just know that you are the best that has ever happened to me. I can’t imagine my life without your constant stupidity. Happy birthday!
♥ Today is your day to forget everything and celebrate. You are growing into a graceful man. May you have a wonderful birthday!
♥ You are the one person I know who has never done any harm to anyone. I hope you get the same in return forever. Happy birthday to you!
♥ It is your birthday, my friend and we are all here for you to celebrate your happy day. May you have all the happiness in the world.
♥ On this day, my best friend in the entire world was born. I am happier than you on this day. Have a blast.
Funny Birthday Wishes For Male Friend
♥ Happy birthday from the best person in the world. Yes, you read it right. Have a wonderful day!
♥ Thank God I am not there to bring a birthday cake for you or I would have gone broke buying that many candles for your birthday cake. Happy Birthday!
♥ Hey best friend, I hope you have a blast on your birthday but make sure to not end up in jail. Happy birthday.
♥ You getting older and so are your jokes. I will love you regardless of your lame jokes. Happy birthday, best friend!
♥ Enjoy your birthdays before your hair turns grey and your teeth fall out. Have a wonderful birthday, my friend!
Birthday Wishes For Best Friend Male SMS
♥ I always feel warm when I am near you, happy birthday to my best friend.
♥ May you have the happiness that your heart can accommodate, happy birthday best friend!
♥ You are the type of friend that I will always want in my life. Happy birthday to you!
♥ May your day be wonderful compared to other days of the year. Wish you the best happy birthday ever
♥ It feels so great to have a wonderful friend like you. Happy birthday to you!
♥ Our friendship is like a circle because it never ends. Wish you a happy birthday!
♥ You mean a lot to me, and that’s why I am sending you this message. Happy birthday my friend!
♥ You deserve to be pampered today. It is a special day that comes once a year. Happy Birthday.
♥ Your birthday has not just added a year to your life but made our friendship even stronger. Happy birthday my friend!
♥ Happy birthday to that person who always reminds me of what I am worth, even when I can see I am worthless.
♥ Take your time and enjoy every moment of the day. It’s a special day. Happy birthday to you!
♥ We are more like brother and sister, I always feel comfortable when I am talking to you. Happy birthday to you my friend!
♥ On this day I wanted to send you something special, I want you to know that I really care for you. Happy birthday!
Birthday Message for Guy Best Friend
♥ Happy birthday to the most brilliant man in the whole world. Thanks for being someone who I can always look up to as a friend.
♥ Happy birthday to an amazing friend, I have learned so much from you, and you have continued inspiring thousands. May the blessings return to you!
♥ Happy birthday to a true friend! Thank you for being with me every step.
♥ Happy birthday to my biggest inspiration! Have a wonderful day
♥ You are a true friend, thank you for loving me sincerely.
♥ I am so lucky and happy to have a friend like you. Happy birthday my friend!
♥ Happy birthday [name], I want you to know you are a great leader, May you continue doing the great work you are doing.
♥ Your birthday should be every day so that we can celebrate with you. Have a wonderful day and happy birthday friend.
Birthday Wishes for Best Friend Male
♥ This is the best day of the year in your life. May you have an amazing and lovely day!
♥ Happy birthday, my dear friend! May all the happiness of your dreams come true
♥ Friends come and go, only a true friend leaves his footprints in our hearts. Happy birthday to my best true friend!
♥ You are the closest best friend of all days. May your love continue to flourish. Happy birthday friend
♥ Birthday is a day to eat and have fun. May you have all the fun on this special day in your life. Happy birthday, friend!
♥ Friendship is a strong bond between two human minds. May this day be memorable in your life!
♥ A best friend is the one with whom you share happiness, love, and laughter. A best friend is one with whom I can share grief, too. Happy birthday to my best friend!
♥ I can’t compare the help I have received from you. You are the best. Happy birthday to my true friend.
♥ Wishing you a happy and colorful birthday my friend. May your dreams come true on this special day!
♥ A friend is always valuable, though a best friend’s value cannot be quantified. So, I cannot tell you how valuable you are to me. Happy birthday, my friend.
Happy Birthday Quotes for Best Friend Boy
♥ Happy birthday to the best friend I have ever had
♥ When you are around me, I feel at ease and happy. Happy Birthday to my best friend
♥ Spread the fun; do not enjoy it by yourself. Happy birthday, my friend.
♥ Happy birthday to my best friend!
♥ Every hour, every minute, every second, I think about you. Happy birthday my friend.
♥ May this day bring a lot of smiles and happiness to you. Wishing you a great and wonderful birthday!
♥ Happy birthday to the person who knows me best. You are an amazing person.
♥ May God bless you on your birthday and fulfillment all your dreams and wishes! Happy birthday friend
♥ Friends like you are rare to find, without you my life would be empty. Happy birthday, my friend!
♥ In you I have found a friend who can walk with me through thick and thin. Happy birthday friend
♥ Happy birthday to my best friend with whom I have spent all my best years. May we spend more happy years together.
♥ May your destiny take you to every single place that you have always dreamt of. Have an awesome birthday.
♥ My dear friend, I promise to light up your life even after you blow the candles away. May this day be a blessing to your life, Happy birthday
♥ I hope your birthday cake is as sweet as our friendship, Happy birthday.
♥ Happy birthday to my best friend. May all the things that you have ever dreamed of coming true on this special day; may all your wishes be fulfilled.