Today you’ll learn how to say ‘happy birthday’ in Afrikaans.
Use this on your friends that speak Afrikaans to really give them special birthday gift!
As well as wishing your loved one a happy birthday in Afrikaans, I’ll also cover how to sing the Afrikaans version of the happy birthday song!
Table of Contents
Happy Birthday’ In Afrikaans
To wish someone a happy birthday in Afrikaans, you can say “Gelukkige verjaarsdag”:
| English | Afrikaans | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Happy birthday | Gelukkige verjaarsdag | Kheluk-uh-khuh fer-yaar-shdakh |
To hear the pronunciation of this phrase (Gelukkige verjaarsdag), check out the below video:
Alternatively, you can also use some of these phrases to congratulate people on their birthday:
| English | Afrikaans | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Congratulations on your birthday | Veels geluk met jou verjaarsdag | Veels kheluk met yo fer-yaar-shdakh |
| Congratulations | Veels geluk | Veels kheluk |
These terms above work great in Birthday cards if you’re stuck for what to write.
Why not also learn how to say ‘how are you?’ in Afrikaans? You’ll need this essential phrase in lots of different situations.
How To Sing Happy Birthday In Afrikaans
If you want to go the extra mile for your loved one or friend, try singing the happy birthday song in Afrikaans.
Check out the video below to hear the Afrikaans birthday song.
I’ve listed the lyrics below so you can sing along too.
Here’s the words to the happy birthday song in Afrikaans:
“Veels geluk liewe maatjie
omdat jy verjaar
mag die Here jou seën
en nog baie jare spaar.”
This translates to:
“Congratulations dear friend
because it’s your birthday
may the lord bless you
and spare you many more years.”
South African Birthday Traditions
Birthday traditions can be very important to many people on their birthdays.
To make your loved one feel extra special you can also try some of these South African birthday traditions.
In South Africa, there is a tradition where parents will give their child a key on their 21st birthday.
This symbolises that they’re now an adult and can come and go as they please. It also symbolises unlocking the future.
Your 40th birthday is also another big birthday that usually comes with a big celebration.
Thanks for reading this post on how to say ‘happy birthday’ in Afrikaans.
It’s a great idea to make the effort to learn how to say this in someone’s native language or a language that means something to them.
Your loved one or friend will be so impressed!
Why not also learn the names of the different countries in Afrikaans too! This vocabulary can be very useful.
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