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Ready to learn all the things you ever wanted to know about the basic French sentence "Joyeux anniversaire"? This include a complete definition of what it is and how you can use it in a conversation with an audio example. But wait, we also added super useful stuff like slow pronunciation audio, synonyms, dialogue example and more!
Translation : Happy birthday
Register : Neutral - Basic - Celebration
Slow
Normal
IPA : / ʒwajø anivɛʁsɛʁ /
"Joyeux anniversaire" is the common way to say "Happy birthday" in French. (We also use "Bon anniversaire" frequently.)
To keep it simple, use one of these:
For a complete sentence in an informal context, use instead:
And for a formal context, use:
Finally, if you want to amplify your wish, you can add "très" (very) before "bon". Example: "Je te souhaite un très bon anniversaire" (I wish you a very good birthday)
To wish someone a happy birthday in Quebec, you should use instead "Joyeuse fête". (Which doesn't work in France)
Also, when singing to wish someone a happy birthday in France, we use exactly the same melody as the song "Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you *name* (...)". So it becomes "Joyeux anniversaire, joyeux anniversaire *name* (...)"
↓ Example in a story with English translation ↓
Finally, let's see an example in a parallel story with slow audio.
Organiser un anniversaire
Organize a birthday
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