Happy birthday in Welsh
Pen-blwydd hapus
In Welsh, the phrase to know first is "Pen-blwydd hapus!" (Happy birthday!). The others are below, each with a note on when to use it.
Happy birthday in Welsh is Pen-blwydd hapus, also written Penblwydd hapus. Below are the greeting, how to say thank you, and the word for birthday itself.
Greetings
Pen-blwydd hapus!
Happy birthday!
The usual wish.
Penblwydd hapus!
Happy birthday!
The same, written as one word.
Replies
Diolch!
Thanks!
The simple reply.
Diolch yn fawr!
Thank you very much!
A warmer thank you.
Useful words
pen-blwydd
birthday; anniversary
Also an anniversary of any kind.
About the words
Pen-blwydd is made of pen, "head, end", and blwydd, "year (of age)", and it means both birthday and anniversary. Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru lists pen-blwydd under pen, and Wiktionary gives penblwydd as another spelling. Hapus, happy, is a calque of the English word.
Common questions
How do you say happy birthday in Welsh?
Pen-blwydd hapus! It is also written Penblwydd hapus.
Happy birthday in the other Celtic languages
Further reading
Go beyond the phrases
blas. teaches Welsh with spaced repetition — vocabulary, mutations, grammar, reading, and conversation. Not just for Happy birthday, but for life. Free to start.
Start learning WelshWelsh phrases for the year ahead
Welsh phrases for everyday occasions
Sources
Every phrase and fact on this page was checked against the sources below. Last checked 2026-10-20.
- Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org
- Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru: pen-blwydd
- Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org
- blas. course data
- Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org
- Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org
- Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org
Credit: Wiktionary contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0.