The first time I went to a birthday party in France, everything was going fine until the lights went off. Everyone gathered around the cake, someone started singing Joyeux anniversaire /ʒwa.jø.z‿a.ni.vɛʁ.sɛʁ/ — happy birthday — and I… panicked. I tried to blend in, but what came out of my yak mouth was a strange mix of English “Happy birthday” and French nasal vowels. Even the candles looked confused.
Later that night, I tried to be clever and wrote Bonne anniversaire in a message. My French friend gently replied: “Thanks… but it’s bon anniversaire /bɔ̃.n‿a.ni.vɛʁ.sɛʁ/, ‘anniversaire’ is masculine.” Great. I’d just invented gender-fluid cake.
By the end of this guide, you’ll know how to say happy birthday in French like a real life human: how to use joyeux anniversaire, when bon anniversaire is okay, how to sing the birthday song without melting into English, and what to write in texts and cards so your French friends feel celebrated, not linguistically attacked.
Quick Primer: Joyeux, Bon, And This Word Anniversaire
Let’s set the stage.
On first mentions:
- joyeux anniversaire /ʒwa.jø.z‿a.ni.vɛʁ.sɛʁ/ — happy birthday (literally “joyful birthday”)
- bon anniversaire /bɔ̃.n‿a.ni.vɛʁ.sɛʁ/ — happy birthday (literally “good birthday”)
- un anniversaire /œ̃.n‿a.ni.vɛʁ.sɛʁ/ — a birthday / an anniversary
Three important points:
- Anniversaire is masculine.
So it’s joyeux anniversaire and bon anniversaire, not ✗ bonne anniversaire. - Joyeux anniversaire is the superstar.
It’s the most classic, song-friendly way to say “happy birthday.” - Anniversaire also means “anniversary.”
Context does the work:
- C’est mon anniversaire. /sɛ mɔ̃.n‿a.ni.vɛʁ.sɛʁ/ — It’s my birthday.
- Notre anniversaire de mariage. /nɔ.tʁ‿a.ni.vɛʁ.sɛʁ də ma.ʁjaʒ/ — Our wedding anniversary.
- C’est mon anniversaire. /sɛ mɔ̃.n‿a.ni.vɛʁ.sɛʁ/ — It’s my birthday.
Once those three are clear, the rest is just adding sprinkles.
Core Happy Birthday Phrases You Actually Need
Let’s collect the must-know expressions first. Then we can decorate.
| French | IPA | English |
| Joyeux anniversaire ! | ʒwa.jø.z‿a.ni.vɛʁ.sɛʁ | Happy birthday! |
| Bon anniversaire ! | bɔ̃.n‿a.ni.vɛʁ.sɛʁ | Happy birthday! |
| Joyeux anniversaire, Marie ! | ʒwa.jø.z‿a.ni.vɛʁ.sɛʁ ma.ʁi | Happy birthday, Marie! |
| Bon anniversaire, Thomas ! | bɔ̃.n‿a.ni.vɛʁ.sɛʁ tɔ.ma | Happy birthday, Thomas! |
| C’est ton anniversaire ? | sɛ tɔ̃.n‿a.ni.vɛʁ.sɛʁ | Is it your birthday? (informal) |
| C’est votre anniversaire ? | sɛ vɔ.tʁ‿a.ni.vɛʁ.sɛʁ | Is it your birthday? (formal) |
| Joyeux anniversaire en retard. | ʒwa.jø.z‿a.ni.vɛʁ.sɛʁ ɑ̃ ʁə.taʁ | Happy belated birthday. |
Joyeux anniversaire works in almost any situation: spoken, written, shouted over cake. Bon anniversaire is also fine and common; some regions and families lean more one way than the other.
Usage tip: if you’re singing the song, it’s always joyeux anniversaire. That’s the anchor line.
How To Sing “Joyeux Anniversaire” (French Birthday Song)
Good news: the French birthday song uses basically the same tune as the English “Happy Birthday to You”. So your brain already knows the melody; you just need to plug in the French lyrics.
Standard Lyrics
Here’s the classic, simple version most people use:
French line, then IPA, then English gloss.
Joyeux anniversaire,
/ʒwa.jø.z‿a.ni.vɛʁ.sɛʁ/
Happy birthday,
Joyeux anniversaire,
/ʒwa.jø.z‿a.ni.vɛʁ.sɛʁ/
Happy birthday,
Joyeux anniversaire, [Name],
/ʒwa.jø.z‿a.ni.vɛʁ.sɛʁ [Name]/
Happy birthday, [Name],
Joyeux anniversaire !
/ʒwa.jø.z‿a.ni.vɛʁ.sɛʁ/
Happy birthday!
Example with a name:
Joyeux anniversaire, Camille,
/ʒwa.jø.z‿a.ni.vɛʁ.sɛʁ ka.mij/
Common Variants
Sometimes you’ll hear a second verse with extra wishes, like:
Et si tu ne veux pas grandir,
/e si ty nə vø pa ɡʁɑ̃.diʁ/
And if you don’t want to grow up,
Tu n’as qu’à le dire !
/ty n‿a ka lə diʁ/
Just say so!
…but honestly, as a learner, if you can manage the main verse with the name in the right place, you’re already winning the party.
Yak tip:
Practice saying joyeux anniversaire in rhythm with the tune without singing first. Say it like a poem. Once your tongue stops fighting you, add the melody.
Birthday Wishes: Short, Sweet, And Very French
Now that you can shout Joyeux anniversaire at cake, let’s pad your repertoire with real birthday wishes you can use in messages, cards, or awkward office parties.
Short Spoken Wishes
| French | IPA | English |
| Joyeux anniversaire ! | ʒwa.jø.z‿a.ni.vɛʁ.sɛʁ | Happy birthday! |
| Bon anniversaire ! | bɔ̃.n‿a.ni.vɛʁ.sɛʁ | Happy birthday! |
| Joyeux anniversaire à toi. | ʒwa.jø.z‿a.ni.vɛʁ.sɛʁ a twa | Happy birthday to you. |
| Joyeux anniversaire à vous. | ʒwa.jø.z‿a.ni.vɛʁ.sɛʁ a vu | Happy birthday to you. (formal) |
| Joyeux anniversaire, profite bien ! | ʒwa.jø.z‿a.ni.vɛʁ.sɛʁ pʁɔ.fit bjɛ̃ | Happy birthday, enjoy it! |
Slightly Longer Wishes (Informal)
On first mentions:
- plein de bonheur /plɛ̃ də bɔ.nœʁ/ — lots of happiness
- plein de belles choses /plɛ̃ də bɛl ʃoz/ — lots of good things
- profiter de /pʁɔ.fi.te də/ — to make the most of, to enjoy
| French | IPA | English |
| Bon anniversaire, profite bien de ta journée ! | bɔ̃.n‿a.ni.vɛʁ.sɛʁ pʁɔ.fit bjɛ̃ də ta ʒuʁ.ne | Happy birthday, enjoy your day! |
| Joyeux anniversaire, plein de bonheur ! | ʒwa.jø.z‿a.ni.vɛʁ.sɛʁ plɛ̃ də bɔ.nœʁ | Happy birthday, lots of happiness! |
| Joyeux anniversaire, plein de belles choses pour toi. | ʒwa.jø.z‿a.ni.vɛʁ.sɛʁ plɛ̃ də bɛl ʃoz puʁ twa | Happy birthday, lots of good things for you. |
Formal / Polite Wishes
Use these with colleagues you vouvoie, older people, or in written cards.
| French | IPA | English |
| Je vous souhaite un très bon anniversaire. | ʒə vu swɛt œ̃ tʁɛ bɔ̃.n‿a.ni.vɛʁ.sɛʁ | I wish you a very happy birthday. |
| Tous mes vœux pour votre anniversaire. | tu mɛ vø puʁ vɔ.tʁ‿a.ni.vɛʁ.sɛʁ | All my best wishes for your birthday. |
| Je vous souhaite beaucoup de bonheur pour cette nouvelle année de votre vie. | ʒə vu swɛt bo.ku də bɔ.nœʁ puʁ sɛt nu.vɛl a.ne də vɔ.tʁə vi | I wish you lots of happiness for this new year of your life. |
Usage Notes & Common Mistakes
- Don’t say ✗ joyeux anniversaire pour toi when you mean “to you.” Use à toi / a twa instead.
- Remember anniversaire is masculine: un anniversaire, bon anniversaire, joyeux anniversaire, never ✗ bonne anniversaire.
- In speech, people often keep it simple: just Joyeux anniversaire ! + maybe one short extra line.
Writing Birthday Messages (Cards, Texts, Social Media)
Spoken French can stay short and shouty. Written wishes usually get one or two extra sentences.
Informal Messages (Friends, Family)
| French | IPA | English |
| Joyeux anniversaire ! Profite bien de ta journée 🎂 | ʒwa.jø.z‿a.ni.vɛʁ.sɛʁ pʁɔ.fit bjɛ̃ də ta ʒuʁ.ne | Happy birthday! Enjoy your day 🎂 |
| Bon anniversaire ! Plein de bonheur et de gâteaux. | bɔ̃.n‿a.ni.vɛʁ.sɛʁ plɛ̃ də bɔ.nœʁ e də ɡa.to | Happy birthday! Lots of happiness and cake. |
| Joyeux anniversaire, vieux ! | ʒwa.jø.z‿a.ni.vɛʁ.sɛʁ vjø | Happy birthday, old man! (very informal, teasing) |
| Joyeux anniversaire, tu me manques ❤️ | ʒwa.jø.z‿a.ni.vɛʁ.sɛʁ ty mə mɑ̃k | Happy birthday, I miss you ❤️ |
Polite / Semi-Formal Messages
| French | IPA | English |
| Joyeux anniversaire ! Je vous souhaite beaucoup de belles choses cette année. | ʒwa.jø.z‿a.ni.vɛʁ.sɛʁ ʒə vu swɛt bo.ku də bɛl ʃoz sɛt a.ne | Happy birthday! I wish you lots of good things this year. |
| Bon anniversaire, et tous mes vœux de réussite. | bɔ̃.n‿a.ni.vɛʁ.sɛʁ e tu mɛ vø də ʁe.y.sit | Happy birthday and all my best wishes for your success. |
| Je vous souhaite un très bel anniversaire entouré de vos proches. | ʒə vu swɛt œ̃ tʁɛ bɛl‿a.ni.vɛʁ.sɛʁ ɑ̃.tu.ʁe də vo pʁɔʃ | I wish you a beautiful birthday surrounded by your loved ones. |
Yak confession:
For my first French birthday message, I overcompensated and wrote something that sounded like a wedding speech. Keep it simple. One line of “joyeux anniversaire,” one line of “I wish you X,” done.
Birthday Traps: Age, Politeness, And Other Surprises
A few cultural landmines that are good to know.
How Old Are You? Carefully, Please
On first mention:
- Tu as quel âge ? /ty a kɛ.l‿aʒ/ — How old are you? (informal)
- Vous avez quel âge ? /vu za.ve kɛ.l‿aʒ/ — How old are you? (formal)
These questions are fine with kids and close friends. With adults you don’t know well, it can feel a bit personal, especially if you ask immediately at the party like a curious yak with no filter.
Safer alternative:
- Tu as quel âge maintenant ? /ty a kɛ.l‿aʒ mɛ̃.tə.nɑ̃/ — How old are you now? (only if you’re already chatting)
If you’re not close, sometimes people just say:
- Je ne demande pas l’âge. /ʒə nə də.mɑ̃d pa laʒ/ — I don’t ask people’s age.
and move on with cake.
Anniversaire vs Fête
On first mention:
- une fête /yn fɛt/ — a party, a celebration
You might hear:
- Bonne fête ! /bɔn fɛt/ — Happy birthday! / Have a great celebration!
In parts of France, bonne fête is mostly used for name days or certain celebrations. In Québec and some other regions, Bonne fête ! is a very common way to say “Happy birthday!”
In France, your safest birthday wish remains joyeux anniversaire or bon anniversaire, but if someone writes Bonne fête !, it still counts as a birthday wish in many contexts.
Pronunciation Pitfalls
Two classic traps:
- joyeux /ʒwa.jø/ — sounds like “zhwa-yuh,” with your lips rounded on /ø/
- anniversaire /a.ni.vɛʁ.sɛʁ/ — 4 syllables: a-ni-vɛʁ-sɛʁ (not “anni-vers-air”)
Better to say it a bit slowly and clearly than to mumble something that sounds like “genial universel.”
Mini Dialogues
Here are some copy-paste birthday moments you can reuse.
1. At A Friend’s Party
Joyeux anniversaire, Léa !
/ʒwa.jø.z‿a.ni.vɛʁ.sɛʁ le.a/
Happy birthday, Léa!
Merci beaucoup !
/mɛʁ.si bo.ku/
Thank you so much!
Profite bien de ta journée.
/pʁɔ.fit bjɛ̃ də ta ʒuʁ.ne/
Enjoy your day.
Merci, c’est gentil.
/mɛʁ.si sɛ ʒɑ̃.ti/
Thanks, that’s kind.
2. At Work (Semi-Formal)
Joyeux anniversaire, monsieur Dupont.
/ʒwa.jø.z‿a.ni.vɛʁ.sɛʁ mə.sjø dy.pɔ̃/
Happy birthday, Mr Dupont.
Merci beaucoup, c’est gentil.
/mɛʁ.si bo.ku sɛ ʒɑ̃.ti/
Thank you very much, that’s kind.
Je vous souhaite une excellente journée.
/ʒə vu swɛt yn ɛk.sɛ.lɑ̃t ʒuʁ.ne/
I wish you an excellent day.
Merci, à ce soir pour le gâteau, alors.
/mɛʁ.si a sə swaʁ puʁ lə ɡa.to a.lɔʁ/
Thanks, see you tonight for the cake then.
3. Birthday Call From A Distance
Allô, joyeux anniversaire !
/a.lo ʒwa.jø.z‿a.ni.vɛʁ.sɛʁ/
Hello, happy birthday!
Oh, merci, tu y as pensé !
/o mɛʁ.si ty i a pɑ̃.se/
Oh, thank you, you remembered!
Bien sûr, plein de bonheur pour toi cette année.
/bjɛ̃ syʁ plɛ̃ də bɔ.nœʁ puʁ twa sɛt a.ne/
Of course, lots of happiness for you this year.
Merci, ça me fait super plaisir.
/mɛʁ.si sa mə fɛ sy.pɛʁ ple.ziʁ/
Thanks, that really makes me happy.
Quick Reference (Happy Birthday Cheat Sheet)
| French | IPA | English |
| Joyeux anniversaire ! | ʒwa.jø.z‿a.ni.vɛʁ.sɛʁ | Happy birthday! |
| Bon anniversaire ! | bɔ̃.n‿a.ni.vɛʁ.sɛʁ | Happy birthday! |
| Joyeux anniversaire, [Name] ! | ʒwa.jø.z‿a.ni.vɛʁ.sɛʁ [Name] | Happy birthday, [Name]! |
| C’est ton anniversaire ? | sɛ tɔ̃.n‿a.ni.vɛʁ.sɛʁ | Is it your birthday? (informal) |
| Je te souhaite un bon anniversaire. | ʒə tə swɛt œ̃ bɔ̃.n‿a.ni.vɛʁ.sɛʁ | I wish you a happy birthday. (informal) |
| Je vous souhaite un très bon anniversaire. | ʒə vu swɛt œ̃ tʁɛ bɔ̃.n‿a.ni.vɛʁ.sɛʁ | I wish you a very happy birthday. (formal) |
| Profite bien de ta journée. | pʁɔ.fit bjɛ̃ də ta ʒuʁ.ne | Enjoy your day. |
| Plein de bonheur. | plɛ̃ də bɔ.nœʁ | Lots of happiness. |
| Joyeux anniversaire en retard. | ʒwa.jø.z‿a.ni.vɛʁ.sɛʁ ɑ̃ ʁə.taʁ | Happy belated birthday. |
| À ton anniversaire ! | a tɔ̃.n‿a.ni.vɛʁ.sɛʁ | To your birthday! (as a toast) |
| Bon anniversaire, à ce soir ! | bɔ̃.n‿a.ni.vɛʁ.sɛʁ a sə swaʁ | Happy birthday, see you this evening! |
Five-Minute Practice Plan
- Joy-Noise Drill (1 minute)
Alternate out loud:
Joyeux anniversaire.
Bon anniversaire.
Do it slowly three times, then at party speed three times. Focus on joyeux /ʒwa.jø/ vs bon /bɔ̃/. - Song Skeleton (1 minute)
Speak the song once without melody:
Joyeux anniversaire, joyeux anniversaire, joyeux anniversaire [Name], joyeux anniversaire.
Then hum the tune while saying the words in your head. - Card Line Builder (1 minute)
Create three complete written wishes and say them out loud:
- Joyeux anniversaire ! Profite bien de ta journée.
- Je vous souhaite un très bon anniversaire.
- Bon anniversaire, plein de bonheur.
- Joyeux anniversaire ! Profite bien de ta journée.
- Mini-Dialogues Out Loud (1 minute)
Pick one Mini Dialogue and play both roles. Don’t read like a robot; imagine the cake. Repeat twice. - Belated Backup Line (30 seconds)
Practice your late excuse:
Joyeux anniversaire en retard !
Say it three times until it feels natural. Future-you will need this, trust me. - Real-Life Mission (30 seconds + whenever the next birthday hits)
Choose one real friend who speaks French (or is learning). On their next birthday, send a message entirely in French:
Joyeux anniversaire ! Profite bien de ta journée 🎂
Congratulations, you’ve just turned vocabulary into an actual human moment.
Blowing Out The Candles En Français
French birthdays aren’t that different from English ones: there’s cake, chaos, and someone trying to hit the high note in the song. The difference is in the tiny phrases — joyeux anniversaire, profite bien, plein de bonheur — that turn your “happy birthday” into something that sounds like it belongs in that kitchen in Lyon or that office in Paris. Once those lines live in your mouth, all that’s left to worry about is how many candles they’re putting on your cake this year.