How to Say Happy Birthday in Greek
If you’re studying Greek, one of the first things you should learn is to wish happy birthday in Greek! For sure, you will come across many situations (such as birthday parties) where you‘ll want to wish someone a happy birthday!
In this article I’ll show you the best ways to say happy birthday in Greek. And of course I’ll show you the Greek birthday song!
Let’s get started!
In this article I’ll show you the best ways to say happy birthday in Greek. And of course I’ll show you the Greek birthday song!
Let’s get started!
Common Ways To Say Happy Birthday In Greek
First things first, let’s start with the basics.
Χρόνια πολλά! (hronia pola!)
Χρόνια πολλά literally means “many years” and it’s a way to say Happy Birthday. With this wish you wish someone to live many years, to live long.
Πολύχρονος (polihronos!)
Πολύχρονος is another wish you can say in someone’s birthday. In English we could translate it as Happy Birthday. It literally means “many years” from the words πολύ (=much, many, a lot) and the word χρόνος (=year). With this word, you wish someone to live many years, to live long.
Να τα εκατοστίσεις! (na ta ekatostisis!)
Να τα εκατοστίσεις is also a birthday wish you can use to mean Happy Birthday. Literally you wish someone to live many years, to live long (again!)
All these 3 wishes (Χρόνια Πολλά, Πολύχρονος, Να τα εκατοστίσεις) have actually the same meaning.
Να τα εκατοστίσεις has the word εκατό (which means 100) inside so you actually wish someone to live long enough to reach the age of 100.
Ό,τι επιθυμείς! (oti epithimis!) Ό,τι επιθυμείς! literally means (have) whatever you desire! and it’s a wish you can add to the basic ones.
Χρόνια πολλά! (hronia pola!)
Χρόνια πολλά literally means “many years” and it’s a way to say Happy Birthday. With this wish you wish someone to live many years, to live long.
Πολύχρονος (polihronos!)
Πολύχρονος is another wish you can say in someone’s birthday. In English we could translate it as Happy Birthday. It literally means “many years” from the words πολύ (=much, many, a lot) and the word χρόνος (=year). With this word, you wish someone to live many years, to live long.
Να τα εκατοστίσεις! (na ta ekatostisis!)
Να τα εκατοστίσεις is also a birthday wish you can use to mean Happy Birthday. Literally you wish someone to live many years, to live long (again!)
All these 3 wishes (Χρόνια Πολλά, Πολύχρονος, Να τα εκατοστίσεις) have actually the same meaning.
Να τα εκατοστίσεις has the word εκατό (which means 100) inside so you actually wish someone to live long enough to reach the age of 100.
Ό,τι επιθυμείς! (oti epithimis!) Ό,τι επιθυμείς! literally means (have) whatever you desire! and it’s a wish you can add to the basic ones.
How to Use Greek Birthday Wishes
When you wish someone for his/her birthday, you don’t have to pick only one of these wishes. If you want, you can have a combination!
For example
– Γεια σου, Κώστα! Χρόνια Πολλά! Πολύχρονος! Ό,τι επιθυμείς!
Yia su, Kosta! Hronia Pola! Polihronos! Oti epithimis!
For example
– Γεια σου, Κώστα! Χρόνια Πολλά! Πολύχρονος! Ό,τι επιθυμείς!
Yia su, Kosta! Hronia Pola! Polihronos! Oti epithimis!
Greek Birthdays
If you’re invited to a birthday party at a bar or a restaurant,
you never pay for the bill.
Guests never pay for the person who has a birthday.
Actually that would be very disrespectful for him or her. You are his/her birthday guest, he/she will pay for everything to please you and will make sure that you’re having fun and you have everything you need. Instead of paying for the bill, you can bring a birthday gift, like a book, clothes, jewelry or anything else you want.
Actually that would be very disrespectful for him or her. You are his/her birthday guest, he/she will pay for everything to please you and will make sure that you’re having fun and you have everything you need. Instead of paying for the bill, you can bring a birthday gift, like a book, clothes, jewelry or anything else you want.
the Greek Birthday Song
The Greek birthday song has a different melody than English.
It has some special sophisticated lyrics!
Here’s how it goes…
Να ζήσεις Βασίλη και Χρόνια Πολλά!
Μεγάλος να γίνεις με άσπρα μαλλιά.
Παντού να σκορπίζεις της γνώσης το φως.
Και όλοι να λένε να ένας σοφός!
And here’s what it means…
(I wish you) To live (long) Vasili and “Happy Birthday”!
(I wish you) To become old with white hair
(I wish you) Everywhere to spread the light of knowledge
And everyone to say there is a wise man!
Here’s how it goes…
Να ζήσεις Βασίλη και Χρόνια Πολλά!
Μεγάλος να γίνεις με άσπρα μαλλιά.
Παντού να σκορπίζεις της γνώσης το φως.
Και όλοι να λένε να ένας σοφός!
And here’s what it means…
(I wish you) To live (long) Vasili and “Happy Birthday”!
(I wish you) To become old with white hair
(I wish you) Everywhere to spread the light of knowledge
And everyone to say there is a wise man!
Congratulations!
Now you know a lot of different ways to wish a happy birthday to someone in Greek. You can even sing the Greek birthday song with the other Greek guests! Start writing nice birthday messages in Greek and you’ll definitely impress your birthday Greek friend and make him or her really happy!
That’s all for today.
Τα λέμε,
Θανάσης
(If you like my free lessons and you’d like to donate and support, click below. Your contribution helps me continue to create great free content.)
Now you know a lot of different ways to wish a happy birthday to someone in Greek. You can even sing the Greek birthday song with the other Greek guests! Start writing nice birthday messages in Greek and you’ll definitely impress your birthday Greek friend and make him or her really happy!
That’s all for today.
Τα λέμε,
Θανάσης
(If you like my free lessons and you’d like to donate and support, click below. Your contribution helps me continue to create great free content.)
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