The most common way to say “birthday” in French is joyeux anniversaire. You’ve probably heard it in songs or movies. But what if you want to wish someone a happy birthday in a slightly different way, or understand the various birthday greetings you might see on a card or hear from a native speaker?

Learning these different expressions will not only expand your vocabulary but also help you sound more like a local when you're celebrating with your French-speaking friends.

Ready to party? Let's dive into nine different ways to say "birthday" in French!

The standard 'birthday' – un anniversaire

The most common and standard way to say 'birthday' in French is un anniversaire. This is the go-to term you'll hear and use in almost every situation.

It's crucial to remember that anniversaire is a masculine noun, even though it ends in 'e'. Therefore, you always use masculine articles like un or le. For example, you would say C'est **un** bel anniversaire (It's a beautiful birthday).

For English speakers, the biggest point of confusion is that anniversaire looks like 'anniversary'. While it can mean that, its primary, default meaning in French is 'birthday'. If you just say C'est mon anniversaire, everyone will assume you mean your birthday.

If you want to talk about the anniversary of an event, you must specify it. The most common example is a wedding anniversary: un anniversaire de mariage. For example: Nous fêtons notre dixième anniversaire de mariage (We are celebrating our tenth wedding anniversary).

The most important phrase is, of course, Joyeux anniversaire ! (Happy birthday!). To talk about celebrating, you use the verb fêter. For example: On va fêter son anniversaire samedi (We are going to celebrate his/her birthday on Saturday).

💡 * Joyeux anniversaire ! J'espère que tu passes une excellente journée.

• C'est quand, ton anniversaire ? Le mien est en juillet.
• Il a reçu beaucoup de cadeaux pour son anniversaire.
• Demain, c'est notre premier anniversaire de mariage.

The informal, abbreviated 'birthday' – un anniv

In casual, everyday French, you'll often hear “birthday” shortened to un anniv. This is a very common informal abbreviation of the full word, un anniversaire.

This shortening is a form of French slang known as l'apocope, where the end of a word is dropped. Just as cinéma becomes ciné and restaurant becomes resto, anniversaire is frequently clipped to anniv.

The use of anniv is strictly informal. It's perfect for text messages, social media posts, and casual conversations with friends, peers, and close family. You would not use it in a formal setting, on a fancy invitation, or when speaking to someone you need to show a high level of respect to.

While un anniversaire is universally appropriate, un anniv signals familiarity and a relaxed atmosphere. For example, you might text a friend, “Joyeux anniv !” but you would write “Joyeux anniversaire” on a card for your boss or an elderly relative.

Embracing terms like anniv is a great way to make your French sound more natural and authentic, showing that you understand the nuances of both formal and informal language used by native speakers.

💡 * Tu fais quoi pour ton anniv ce week-end ? (What are you doing for your birthday this weekend?)

• J'ai complètement oublié son anniv, je me sens mal. (I completely forgot his birthday, I feel bad.)
• On organise une petite fête pour l'anniv de Marie. (We're organizing a little party for Marie's birthday.)
• Joyeux anniv en retard ! (Happy belated birthday!)

The 'birthday party' or celebration – une fête

The most common and versatile word for a 'party' or 'celebration' in French is une fête.

Une fête is a broad term used for any kind of gathering or festival. It can refer to a birthday, a holiday (la fête de Noël for Christmas), or a national celebration (la fête nationale for Bastille Day).

To be specific about a 'birthday party,' you simply combine fête with the word for birthday, anniversaire. The correct and most common phrase is une fête d'anniversaire.

It's important to remember that fête is a feminine noun. Therefore, you always use feminine articles and adjectives with it, such as une fête, la fête, or une grande fête.

A very common related expression is faire la fête, which literally means 'to make the party' but is the standard way to say 'to party' or 'to celebrate'.

💡 * Tu viens à ma fête d'anniversaire samedi soir ? (Are you coming to my birthday party Saturday night?)

• On va faire la fête pour célébrer sa promotion. (We're going to party to celebrate his promotion.)
• C'était une fête incroyable ! (It was an incredible party!)
• Le 14 juillet, c'est la fête nationale en France. (July 14th is the national holiday in France.)

1. The 'birthday' in Quebec French – une fête

In Quebec, the common way to say 'birthday' is quite different from Metropolitan French. Instead of anniversaire, you'll frequently hear une fête.

Literally, une fête translates to 'a party' or 'a celebration.' In the context of Quebec French, it has specifically come to mean 'birthday'—referring to the day itself, not just the celebratory event.

This leads to the most common birthday wish in Quebec: Bonne fête! While someone from France would say Joyeux anniversaire!, a Quebecer will almost always wish you a Bonne fête!.

While anniversaire is still understood in Quebec, using fête will make you sound more like a local. The context usually makes it clear whether you mean 'party' or 'birthday.' For instance, asking 'C'est quand, ta fête?' specifically means 'When is your birthday?'

💡 * Bonne fête, mon ami !

• C'est quand, ta fête ?
• J'ai reçu beaucoup de cadeaux pour ma fête.
• On organise une surprise pour sa fête.

The formal 'date of birth' – la date de naissance

The formal phrase for 'date of birth' in French is la date de naissance.

This is the standard and official term you will find on administrative forms, legal documents like passports and ID cards, and in any formal or professional setting. It directly translates to 'the date of birth'.

The phrase is composed of la date (the date) and de naissance (of birth). The word naissance is the noun form of the verb naître, which means 'to be born'. Note that the phrase is always feminine because date is a feminine noun.

It's important not to confuse la date de naissance with l'anniversaire. While related, l'anniversaire means 'birthday' and refers to the annual celebration. You use la date de naissance for official records, not for asking when someone's party is.

When asked for your date of birth, you would state it following the structure: le [jour] [mois] [année]. For example: 'Ma date de naissance est le 10 janvier 1995.'

💡 * Quelle est votre date de naissance, s'il vous plaît ? (What is your date of birth, please?)

• Vous devez remplir le champ 'date de naissance' pour compléter votre inscription. (You must fill in the 'date of birth' field to complete your registration.)
• La date de naissance sur son passeport est incorrecte. (The date of birth on her passport is incorrect.)
• Mon fils est né en France, sa date de naissance est le premier mai deux mille vingt. (My son was born in France, his date of birth is May 1st, 2020.)

The full, descriptive phrase 'anniversary of birth' – l’anniversaire de naissance

The full, formal phrase for a birthday in French is l’anniversaire de naissance, which literally translates to 'the anniversary of birth'. While most people simply say l'anniversaire, this longer version is used for clarity and formality.

You'll typically encounter l’anniversaire de naissance in more formal or official contexts, such as on legal documents. It's also used to specifically distinguish a person's birthday from another type of anniversary, like an anniversaire de mariage (wedding anniversary).

In everyday conversation, just using l’anniversaire is standard and perfectly understood to mean 'birthday'. Using the full phrase l'anniversaire de naissance in a casual chat would sound overly formal, similar to saying 'the anniversary of my birth' in English instead of just 'my birthday'.

In short, stick to l’anniversaire for everyday situations like wishing someone a happy birthday. Reserve l’anniversaire de naissance for times when you need to be precise, official, or want to avoid any possible confusion with other types of anniversaries.

💡 * Le formulaire demande la date de l'anniversaire de naissance du candidat. (The form asks for the candidate's date of birth anniversary.)

• Nous célébrons le 80ème anniversaire de naissance de ma grand-mère. (We are celebrating my grandmother's 80th birth anniversary.)
• Pour être clair, je parle de mon anniversaire de naissance, pas de mon anniversaire de mariage. (To be clear, I'm talking about my birth anniversary, not my wedding anniversary.)

The 'day of your birth' – le jour de votre naissance

The most literal and formal way to say “the day of your birth” in French is le jour de votre naissance. This phrase is often used in official documents, administrative contexts, or very formal conversations.

The phrase consists of le jour (the day), de (of), and votre naissance (your birth). The possessive adjective votre is the formal 'your'. If you are speaking to a friend, family member, or someone you know well (using tu), you would say le jour de ta naissance.

In everyday conversation, it's much more common to ask about someone's birthday (l'anniversaire). For example, instead of asking for le jour de votre naissance, you would more likely ask, C'est quand, ton anniversaire? (When is your birthday?) or Quelle est votre date de naissance? (What is your date of birth?).

💡 * Sur ce document officiel, veuillez indiquer le jour de votre naissance. (On this official document, please indicate your day of birth.)

• Le jour de ta naissance, il a neigé pour la première fois cette année-là. (On the day of your birth, it snowed for the first time that year.)
• Je cherche un cadeau pour le jour de sa naissance. (I'm looking for a gift for the day of her/his birth.)
• Quelle est la date de votre naissance, Madame ? (What is your date of birth, Ma'am?)

The milestone birthday (e.g., 'your 20th birthday') – vos vingt ans

To talk about a milestone birthday in French, especially one marking a new decade, you use the phrase possessive adjective + number + ans. For example, vos vingt ans literally means 'your twenty years' but is understood as 'your 20th birthday'.

The structure is flexible. You change the possessive adjective to match the person: mes trente ans (my 30th birthday), tes quarante ans (your [informal] 40th birthday), or ses cinquante ans (his/her 50th birthday). The number, of course, changes with the age.

This expression is specifically used for celebrating or referring to the event of turning a certain age, rather than just stating how old you are. For instance, fêter ses vingt ans means 'to celebrate one's 20th birthday'. It adds a sense of occasion and significance to the age.

💡 * On va fêter tes vingt ans ce week-end ! (We are going to celebrate your 20th birthday this weekend!)

• Pour mes trente ans, j'ai fait un grand voyage en Italie. (For my 30th birthday, I took a big trip to Italy.)
• Il a reçu une voiture pour ses dix-huit ans. (He received a car for his 18th birthday.)
• Qu'avez-vous fait pour vos soixante ans ? (What did you do for your 60th birthday?)

Understanding Name Day in France: La Fête du Prénom

In France, beyond birthdays, there is another personal celebration known as la fête du prénom, which translates to 'name day.' This tradition originates from the Catholic calendar, where each day is dedicated to a specific saint. If you are named after a saint, their feast day becomes your name day.

A name day is typically a smaller celebration than a birthday. On this day, it's customary for friends and family to wish you 'Bonne fête !' (Happy name day!). While large parties are uncommon, a small gift, a card, or a phone call are common ways to mark the occasion.

Traditionally, French calendars (les calendriers) clearly list the saint's name for each day. Nowadays, the easiest way is to search online for 'fête du prénom' followed by your name. Note that not all modern or non-French names have a corresponding saint's day.

While the custom is more deeply rooted in older generations, celebrating la fête du prénom is still a recognized and charming aspect of French culture. It's a thoughtful gesture that shows you care, even if it's just with a simple greeting.

💡 *Aujourd'hui, c'est la Saint-Nicolas, alors bonne fête à mon fils ! (Today is Saint Nicholas's day, so happy name day to my son!)
*Tu sais c'est quand, la fête de ton prénom ? (Do you know when your name day is?)
*Ma grand-mère m'offre toujours un petit cadeau pour ma fête. (My grandmother always gives me a small gift for my name day.)
*N'oublie pas de souhaiter une bonne fête à Catherine demain. (Don't forget to wish Catherine a happy name day tomorrow.)

Are there other ways to say 'birthday' in French?

Are there other ways to say “birthday” in French?

Our list has covered the essential ways to talk about a “birthday” in French. But don't be surprised if you hear other terms! The language is full of regionalisms, slang, and expressions that vary from one French-speaking community to another.

To discover these variations, try an online search for “souhaiter un anniversaire en ___” and add the name of a Francophone region like Quebec or Switzerland.

Whenever you learn a new term, pay attention to the context. Is it formal or informal? Is it used by younger or older speakers? Observing how native speakers use it is the best way to learn.

Immerse yourself in the culture! Watching French TV shows or movies where characters celebrate birthdays is a fun and effective way to hear these words used naturally.

If you're curious about more vocabulary related to celebrations, the WordReference entry and forums for anniversaire are excellent places to find examples and discussions.

We hope this guide helps you celebrate many joyeux anniversaires in French! Let’s end with a fitting thought: L'âge n'est qu'un chiffre, mais la vie est un cadeau. (Age is just a number, but life is a gift.)