The quick and easy answer for how to tell someone Happy Birthday in Thai is to just say “Happy Birthday” with Thai pronunciation.
[ha-ppeee bert-day]
If you want more options or would like to know what the words all mean in the different expressions, read on as this post covers everything you need to know. We even sing the Thai Happy Birthday song for you below.
สุขสันต์วันเกิด (sùk-sǎn wan-gèrt) — The formal way to say Happy Birthday in Thai.
The Main Ways to Wish Someone a Happy Birthday in Thai
There are a few different options for saying “Happy Birthday” to your friends and loved ones in Thai.
1. The Casual & Common Way: แฮปปี้เบิร์ดเดย์
Just like in English, the most common and widely understood phrase is simply the Thai pronunciation of “Happy Birthday.”
- Happy Birthday! – Yes, you can just use English and everyone will understand.
- แฮปปี้เบิร์ดเดย์ – This is saying “Happy Birthday” using the Thai sound system. Since there is no ‘TH’ sound in Thai, “birth” sounds a lot more like “bird.”
2. The Formal Thai Blessing: สุขสันต์วันเกิด
สุขสันต์วันเกิด (suk san wan geuod) is the more traditional Thai blessing. You’d put this on a card or post it on social media. While you can say it out loud, the casual phrase above is more common in speech.
Let’s break down the words in this phrase:
So, the literal meaning is something like “Happy, Peaceful Day of Birth.”
Singing the Happy Birthday Song in Thai
The Thai version of the “Happy Birthday” song is almost identical to the English one. The only difference is the 3rd line, where instead of “Happy birthday dear (name),” you just repeat “Happy birthday” again.
I’ve added spaces between the words to make it easier to read if you don’t know the Thai script yet.
แฮปปี้ เบิร์ดเดย์ ทู ยู (Happy Birthday to You)
แฮปปี้ เบิร์ดเดย์ ทู ยู (Happy Birthday to You)
แฮปปี้ เบิร์ดเดย์ แฮปปี้ เบิร์ดเดย์ (Happy Birthday Happy Birthday)
แฮปปี้เบิร์ดเดย์ ทู~~~ ยู (Happy Birthday tooooooo youuuuu)
And here’s the song sung for you! Try and follow along with the text above.
Thai Happy Birthday Song
Now, let’s practice some of these Thai happy birthday words and phrases using the flashcards below.
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Essential Greetings & Phrases
- How to Say Hello in Thai
- How to Say Thank You in Thai
- How to Say Goodbye in Thai
- How to Say Yes in Thai
- How to Say Please in Thai
- How to Say Sorry in Thai
Common Expressions & Vocabulary
- How to Say I Love You in Thai
- How to Say Cute in Thai
- How to Say Congrats in Thai
- How to Order Coffee in Thai
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it ok to just say “Happy Birthday” in English in Thailand?
Not at all! It is very common and perfectly normal to say “Happy Birthday” in English (with Thai pronunciation if you are able!).
What are some other common birthday wishes in Thai?
Besides “Happy Birthday,” a very common wish is for good health: ขอให้สุขภาพแข็งแรง (khǎaw hâi sùk-khà-phâap khǎeng-raeng), which means “Wishing you good health.”
How do Thai people typically celebrate birthdays?
Traditionally, birthdays in Thailand are a time for “making merit” (ทำบุญ – tham bun), which can involve visiting a temple or giving food to monks. Modern celebrations also include cakes, parties, and family meals, much like in Western cultures.