Happy Birthday in Russian || 24 Words & Phrases to Learn
Happy Birthday in Russian (+ Traditions, Culture & Food)
Today we’ll provide a step-by-step guide to saying Happy Birthday in Russian.
There are 25 words and phrases to learn in total, and there’s a recap at the end of the post that you can save/bookmark.
We’ll also share some tips on how to make the most of your birthday celebrations.
So whether you’re looking for a way to impress your Russian friends or simply want to learn more about the language, this blog post is for you!
Happy Birthday in Russian || Key Phrases
Happy Birthday in Russian || A Typical Birthday
Happy Birthday in Russian || Traditional Food
Happy Birthday in Russian || How to Make a Cake
Happy Birthday in Russian || Fun Games
Happy Birthday in Russian || Popular Gifts
Happy Birthday in Russian || Vocab Recap
Happy Birthday in Russian || Take the Quiz
Happy Birthday in Russian || FAQs
How to Say “Happy Birthday” in Russian
Celebrating birthdays is a universal gesture of appreciation and love, but how you express it may vary depending on the culture.
In Russia, the phrase “с днем рождения” (pronounced s dnem rozhdeniya) is the most common birthday wish and is used to convey wishes for good health and fortune.
TOP TIP || Depending on whom you’re addressing there can be variations in what you say — for example, if talking to more than one person the word “вас” (pronounced vas) should be added between “с” and “днем”.
An alternative you can use is Желаю тебе счастливого дня рождения (zhelayu tebe schastlivogo dnya rozhdeniya!) which essentially means “I wish you a happy birthday”.
You can use Желаю тебе when giving multiple different kinds of wishes…
FOR EXAMPLE || you can also wish you Russian friend luck, health, success or even great dreams.
Let’s see how.
First we need to differentiate between formal and informal situations.
Using informal with friends is of course OK, but to someone you’ve just met, an elder, or an acquaintance, it’s best to go formal.
- Я желаю тебе… I wish you… (informal)
- Я желаю Вам… I wish you… (formal)
And then you can simply add on…
| Russian | English |
|---|---|
| удачи | good luck |
| исполнения всех желаний | all your dreams come true |
| успехов во всех начинаниях | success in all your endeavors |
| здоровья, благополучия, и счастья | health, wealth and happiness |
| всего самого наилучшего | all the best |
We can also learn some toasts in Russian. Let’s say it’s mum or dads birthday.
You can use За родителей!
You can also toast to the birthday boy or birthday girl in Russian.
Let’s see how…
| Russian | English |
|---|---|
| За хозяйку этого дома! | To the hostess |
| За здоровье! | To your health |
| За родителей! | To your parents |
| За именинника! | To the birthday boy |
| За именинницу! | To the birthday girl |
BONUS VOCAB || To ask how old someone is you can say Сколько тебе лет? (informal) or Сколько Вам лет? (formal)
Having some knowledge of local customs and phraseology can add an extra positive touch to any birthday celebration.
Let’s take a look in a bit more detail.
A Typical Russian Birthday Celebration
The Russian birthday celebration generally starts with an intimate gathering of family and friends at home and usually involves singing songs, eating cake, and giving presents.
One meaningful tradition is for the celebrant to extinguish a candle (свеч) planted atop of the birthday cake (Торт) while making a wish (загадывает желание). Quite a common one worldwide, but nonetheless important!
BONUS VOCAB || Blow out the candle in Russian is задувает свечи.
The group then stands in a circle around the person of honour and gives three cheers.
After that, some games may be played.
A popular game involves trying to break an apple hanging from a string with one bite – this symbolizes overcoming various obstacles in life!
Another common tradition on birthdays in Russia is the concept of the birthday person being the “king” or “queen” for the day.
This means that the birthday person is given special treatment and is often spoiled with attention and gifts from friends and family.
BONUS || As it’s Russia, there’s no doubt a shot or four of vodka (водка) maybe involved too!
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Traditional Russian Birthday Foods
In Russia, birthdays are always celebrated with a variety of delicious traditional foods.
From blini pancakes and Pomidor mozzarella salad to herring and caviar, Russian birthday tables are filled with classic dishes that have been consumed by families for generations.
Sweet kvass (квас) and tasty khachapuri (xачапури) cheese pies make the ideal accompaniments to traditional hot dishes such as borscht (Борщ) and beef stroganoff.
Whether it is an intimate gathering or a large celebration, traditional Russian birthday food is sure to draw everyone’s attention and appreciation.
How to Make a Russian Birthday Cake
Celebrating a birthday in the Russian style can be extra special with the preparation of a traditional Russian birthday cake.
This cake consists of multiple layers of thin, homemade crepes stacked high and filled with your choice of sweet custard or fresh fruit.
INGREDIENTS || To make the crepes, you will need all-purpose flour, eggs, milk, butter, and salt.
Step By Step
- Simply mix the ingredients together and allow the batter to rest for 30 minutes
- Cook the crepes on a hot skillet greased with butter.
- Once cooked and cooled completely, it’s time to assemble your cake by layering the crepes along with either a custard or mashed fruit filling.
- All that’s left is to put the finishing touches like topping it off with powdered sugar, whipped cream, or ice cream then cutting it into slices and serving up this special sweet treat.
For a more hands on look, check out this super simple video.
Fun Games To Play
For a unique birthday party experience, nothing beats playing Russian-themed games!
Invite your guests to participate in classic Russian games such as Cossack tag, where two players race around a room (or perhaps better outside!) while one is “it” and the other attempts to grab his or her belt.
Other favourites include Dobble, a game where players attempt to match similar pictures on cards as quickly as possible before their opponents.
These, and many more fun activities means your Russian-themed birthday party will be an exciting and unforgettable event for all guests!
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Popular Gifts for a Russian Birthday
Russian gifts for birthdays vary greatly, with the most fashionable being something personal and useful.
For example, many people opt to give items related to the person’s passions or hobbies — this may be anything from a new set of gym equipment to a collection of books.
Typical items also include jewellery, clothing, home decor, and spa treatments – all of which can be customized according to the recipient’s taste.
Presents that symbolize luck such as small symbols or figurines are also popular choices.
Ultimately, any gift that is bespoke and thoughtful is likely to make a Russian’s day on their birthday.
Happy Birthday in Russian || Vocab Recap
Let’s have a quick recap of all the words and phrases we’ve learnt today.
Be sure to make notes, create your own flashcards, or bookmark this page so you don’t forget any!
| Russian | English |
|---|---|
| с днем рождения | Happy birthday |
| Поздравляю с днём рождения | Congratulations on your birthday |
| Сколько тебе лет? | How old are you (informal) |
| Сколько Вам лет? | How old are you (formal) |
| Я желаю тебе… | I wish you… (informal) |
| Я желаю Вам… | I wish you… (formal) |
| удачи | good luck |
| исполнения всех желаний | all your dreams come true |
| успехов во всех начинаниях | success in all your endeavors |
| здоровья, благополучия, и счастья | health, wealth and happiness |
| всего самого наилучшего | all the best |
| За хозяйку этого дома! | To the hostess |
| За здоровье! | To your health |
| За родителей! | To your parents |
| За именинника! | To the birthday boy |
| За именинницу! | To the birthday girl |
| квас | Kvass (beverage) |
| xачапури | Khachapuri (food) |
| Борщ | Borscht (food) |
| водка | Vodka (beverage) |
| задувает свечи | Blow out the candles |
| свеч | Candle |
| Торт | Cake |
| загадывает желание | Make a wish |
No matter how it is expressed, wishing someone well on their birthday is an important custom in Russia that shows care and appreciation for friends and family members alike.
Ultimately, this makes birthdays in Russia a special occasion to look forward to and cherish!
TOP TIP TO FINISH || If you want to go the extra mile, give your friend a small token of affection like a beautifully wrapped book or box of chocolates on their special day.
BONUS || Rapid Fire Quiz
Let’s test your knowledge with this 2 minutes quiz!
You’ll get your results immediately:
Did you enjoy our look at birthday’s in Russia? We hope you learnt something new today.
If you have any questions, please inform us in the comments below.
If you enjoyed this post why not take a look at:
- Our post on wishing a happy birthday in Vietnamese
- How to say happy birthday in Mandarin
- How to wish a happy birthday in Japanese
- Some of the most popular Korean birthday traditions
Happy Birthday in Russian || FAQs
How to say Happy Birthday in Russian?
In Russia, the phrase “с днем рождения” (pronounced s dnem rozhdeniya) is the most common birthday wish and is used to convey wishes for good health and fortune.
How do you say “I wish…” in Russian?
First we need to differentiate between formal and informal situations.
Using informal with friends is of course OK, but to someone you’ve just met, an elder, or an acquaintance, it’s best to go formal.
Я желаю тебе… I wish you… (informal)
Я желаю Вам… I wish you… (formal)
How do you say Good Luck in Russian?
Good luck in Russian is удачи.
How do you say “to blow out a candle” in Russian
Blow out the candle in Russian is задувает свечи.
What is Борщ?
Борщ is borscht, one of the most well-known dishes in Russian cuisine. It’s commonly enjoyed all year round.
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