Want to know how to say ‘happy birthday’ in Tagalog? You’re in the right place.
It’s always nice to wish someone a happy birthday on their special day but why not do it in a language that means something to them.
As well as wishing your loved one a happy birthday in Tagalog (Filipino), why not also sing the Tagalog version of the happy birthday song!
Read on to learn more about this.
Table of Contents
How To Say ‘Happy Birthday’ In Tagalog
To wish someone a happy birthday in Tagalog, you can say:
| English | Tagalog |
|---|---|
| Happy birthday | Maligayang kaarawan |
| Happy birthday | Maligayang bati |
The second phrase ‘Maligayang bati’ literally translates to ‘happy wishes’ but is used to refer to a person’s birthday and is understood to mean ‘happy birthday’.
Today in the Philippines, a lot of younger people also prefer to say “hapi bertdey” which is a version of the English phrase.
To hear the pronunciation of these phrases, check out the video below:
Tagalog Birthday Wishes & Phrases
Alternatively, you can also use some of these phrases:
| English | Tagalog |
|---|---|
| Congratulations | Binabati kita |
| Happy wishes on your birthday | Maligayang bati sa Iyong kaarawan |
| Happy birthday to you | Maligayang kaarawan sa Iyo |
Birthday Vocabulary In Tagalog
I’ve listed some handy Tagalog birthday vocabulary below. These should come in handy if you’re celebrating a birthday!
| English | Tagalog |
|---|---|
| Birthday | Kaarawan |
| Party | Pagdiriwang |
| Cake | Keyk |
| Candles | Kandila |
| Present/gift | Regalo |
| Birthday card | Kard ng kaarawan |
| Invitation | Imbitasyon |
If you’re speaking to someone special then you’ll want to know how to say I love you in Tagalog.
How To Sing Happy Birthday In Tagalog
If you want to go the extra mile for your loved one or friend, try singing the happy birthday song in Tagalog. You’ll be happy to know it’s the same tune as the English version, they just sing it in Tagalog.
Check out the video below to hear the Tagalog birthday song sung by 2 super cute kids. I’ve listed the lyrics below so you can sing along.
Here’s the lyrics so you can sing along:
“Maligayang bati,
Maligayang bati,
Maligayang, maligayang,
Maligayang bati!”
This translates to:
“Happy birthday to you!
Happy birthday to you!
Happy birthday, happy birthday
Happy birthday to you!”
Filipino 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 Filipino birthday traditions.
Big Celebrations
Filipinos tend to have big celebrations for birthdays! This is usually in the form of a big party where everyone (and I mean everyone) will be invited.
Every family member and friend (no matter how distant) will be invited to attend and even help in preparation for the party.
Expect tons of balloons, karaoke, mounds of food, singing, dancing and much more.
Important Birthdays
Some birthdays are more important than others and deserve an even bigger celebration. In the Philippines the most important birthdays are the 1st, 7th, 18th (for girls) and 21st (for boys).
- 1st birthday – this one is important because it’s a time to celebrate that a child has reached one whole year of life! The celebration is more for the parents than anything else.
- 7th birthday – reaching 7 years old is important in the the Philippines as this is the age when a person becomes more accountable for their actions. Kids understand right from wrong and also move to primary school during this year.
- 18th birthday (for girls) – this one is often referred to as a ‘debut’. It marks a girls transition from adolescence to adulthood.
- 21st birthday (for boys) – similar to the above, this birthday is important as it marks a boys transition from adolescence to adulthood.
Traditional Food
Filipino birthday parties often feature lots of traditional food. There are many different kinds of food served, including kakanin, a type of rice cake, and pancit, all types of noodle dishes.
These days a lot of people opt to have a birthday party at a restaurant rather than at home so people can relax more so you may see other types of food here too.
Thanks for reading this post on how to say ‘happy birthday’ in Tagalog.
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!
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