Today you’ll learn how to wish someone a happy birthday in Portuguese.
💡 As a quick summary, the most common ways to wish happy birthday in Portuguese are to say ‘Feliz aniversário’ or ‘Parabéns’.
As well as wishing your loved one a happy birthday in Portuguese, you’ll also learn to sing the Portuguese version of the happy birthday song!
This article covers both European Portuguese and Brazilian Portuguese.
Table of Contents
‘Happy Birthday’ In Portuguese
There is a slight difference in pronunciation between European Portuguese (spoken in Portugal) and Brazilian Portuguese (spoken in Brazil).
I have included audio links for both accents.
To wish someone a happy birthday in Portuguese, you can say one of the following:
| English | Portuguese |
|---|---|
| Happy birthday | Feliz aniversário Portugal / Brazil |
| Happy birthday (more informal) | Parabéns Portugal / Brazil |
‘Feliz aniversário’ literally translates to ‘happy anniversary’ but is associated with birthdays. This is a more formal way to wish a happy birthday in Portuguese.
‘Parabéns’ literally translates to ‘congratulations’ but again is associated with birthdays. This is a common more informal way to wish a happy birthday that you would often use with friends and family.
You can use ‘Feliz aniversário’ and ‘Parabéns’ in both Brazil and Portugal.
Portuguese Birthday Wishes & Phrases
Alternatively, you can also use some of these birthday related phrases in Portuguese:
| English | Portuguese |
|---|---|
| Happy belated birthday | Feliz aniversário atrasado |
| Health and happiness | Saúde e felicidade |
| Have a nice day | Tem um bom dia |
| Many years of life | Muitos anos de vida |
| Congratulations to you | Parabéns pra você |
The phrases above can be perfect if you need to write a brithday card in portuguese for someone. (I always get stuck on knowing what to write in birthday cards).
Related reading: If you’re speaking to someone special then you’ll want to know how to say I love you in Portuguese.
Birthday Vocabulary In Portuguese
I’ve listed some handy Portuguese birthday vocabulary below. These should come in handy if you’re celebrating a birthday!
| English | Portuguese |
|---|---|
| Birthday | Aniversário |
| Birthday party | Festa de aniversário |
| Birthday cake | Bolo de aniversário |
| Candles | Velas |
| Present/gift | Presente |
| Birthday card | Cartão de aniversário |
| Birthday person | Aniversariante |
| Wishes | Desejos |
| Invitation | Convite |
| Surprise | Surpresa |
| To celebrate a birthday | Para comemorar um aniversário |
| Make a wish | Faça um desejo |
How To Sing Happy Birthday In Portuguese
If you want to go the extra mile for your loved one or friend, try singing the happy birthday song in Portuguese.
You’ll be happy to know it’s the same tune as the English version.
The birthday song does differ in Portugal and Brazil so I’ve covered both songs below.
Happy Birthday Song In European Portuguese
In Portugal, the song actually has 4 verses. Most people just sing the first 2 verses and end there however sometimes people will continue and sing all 4.
Check out the video below to hear the European Portuguese birthday song which is sung in Portugal.
I’ve listed the lyrics below so you can sing along including all 4 verses.
Here’s the words to the happy birthday song in European Portuguese:
“Parabéns a você
Nesta data querida
Muitas felicidades
Muitos anos de vida.
Hoje é dia de festa
Cantam as nossas almas
Para o menino/a *name*
Uma salva de palmas.
Hoje o/a *name* faz anos
Porque Deus assim quis
O que nós desejamos
É que seja feliz
Tenha tudo de bom
Do que a vida contém
Tenha muita saúde
E amigos também”
This translates to:
“Happy Birthday to you
On this dear date
Much happiness
Many years of life.
Today is celebration day
Our souls sing
A round of applause
for the birthday boy/girl *name*.
*Name* has a birthday
Because God wanted it so
What we wish
Is for him/her to be happy.
May he/she have only good things
Of what life is made of
May he/she have lots of health
And friends too.”
Happy Birthday Song In Brazilian Portuguese
Check out the video below to hear the Brazilian Portuguese birthday song. I’ve listed the lyrics below so you can sing along.
Here’s the words to the happy birthday song in Brazilian Portuguese:
“Parabéns pra você
Nesta data querida
Muitas felicidades
Muitos anos de vida!
Parabéns pra você
Nesta data querida
Muitas felicidades
Muitos anos de vida!”
This translates to:
“Happy birthday to you
On this dear date
Much happiness
Many years of life!
Happy birthday to you
On this dear date
Much happiness
Many years of life!”
There are also lots of variations that come after the song. One of the most common ones is below:
“É pique, é pique
É pique, é pique, é pique
É hora, é hora
É hora, é hora, é hora
Rá Tim Bum
*name*, *name*, *name*”
You can also hear this chant in the video above.
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 Portuguese birthday traditions.
Portugal Birthday Traditions
In Portugal, birthdays are usually celebrated with a birthday party which usually takes place on the following Saturday or Sunday after the birthday.
They always take place after the birthday and never before.
If you’re a child then you’ll usually take a cake or some treats to school with you to celebrate with your friends.
Similar to in other countries, at a birthday party the candles on the cake will be lit and everyone will sing the Portuguese happy birthday song whilst you blow out the candles and make a wish.
Birthday parties usually take place either at home or sometimes in a restaurant or bar. All of the birthday person’s close family and friends will attend.
These parties usually feature lots of Portuguese food such as small pastries, sandwiches, fruit salads and more.
Brazil Birthday Traditions
Birthday parties in Brazil often feature lots of yummy Brazilian food.
Coxinhas are one of the most popular foods. These consist of shredded chicken, covered in dough. They are then moulded to resemble a teardrop and battered and then fried.
There will usually also be salgadinhos which are small snacks that are made of cheese, vegetable or meat stuffing, wrapped in a fried dough.
On a child’s first birthday after the happy birthday song has been sung, the parents will usually let the baby sink their hand into the cake.
A notable birthday in Brazil is a girl’s 15th birthday.
This usually comes with a big celebration called fiesta de quince años. This is a really big celebration where everyone will be invited.
Thanks for reading this post on how to say ‘happy birthday’ in Portuguese.
Do you remember how to say it? 🤔
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