How to Say “Happy Birthday” in Hebrew (and the Wish Israelis Add)

The standard greeting, the warm traditional add-on, and how to send it in the chat. · Updated

To say “happy birthday” in Hebrew, say יום הולדת שמח (yom huledet sameach). It is the standard greeting and it is said the same way to anyone, man or woman. Israelis often add מזל טוב (mazal tov, “congratulations”), and for a warm, traditional touch, עד מאה ועשרים (ad me’ah ve’esrim), “until 120.” Type it in English and a translation keyboard can send the Hebrew for you.

A birthday message is short, but the nice ones carry a little culture in them. Here is the plain greeting, the warm phrase Israelis add on top, and how to send it without leaving the chat.

How do you say happy birthday in Hebrew?

The greeting is יום הולדת שמח (yom huledet sameach). יום הולדת (yom huledet) is “birthday” and שמח (sameach) is “happy.” It works for anyone, so you do not have to adjust it for who you are wishing. Many people also say מזל טוב (mazal tov), which means “congratulations” and fits birthdays just as well as weddings.

What does “ad me’ah ve’esrim” mean?

עד מאה ועשרים (ad me’ah ve’esrim) literally means “until 120,” a wish for a long life. The number comes from the tradition that Moses lived to 120, and Israelis use it warmly on birthdays, often right after the greeting. Adding it is the difference between a correct message and one that sounds like it came from someone who knows the culture.

How do you send birthday wishes in Hebrew in a chat?

The greeting is easy to type. The rest of the exchange is where it slows down: they reply toda, you answer, and each turn means switching to a translator and back. A translation keyboard like Bridgi lets you type in English and send the Hebrew straight into WhatsApp, so the birthday wish and the back-and-forth after it stay in one chat. The person whose birthday you are wishing today is someone you will keep messaging, which is exactly where sending in Hebrew, in place, pays off.

Bridgi is coming soon to Google Play as a subscription at $4.99 a month or $39.99 a year, with a 7-day free trial to start, no card required. It’s an Android keyboard that turns your English into Hebrew right inside the chat, so the birthday wish and the replies after it stay in one place. Join the waitlist for an email when it goes live, or read the FAQ. Saying more than happy birthday? Here’s how to say “I love you” in Hebrew and how to say “thank you.”

Frequently asked questions

How do you write happy birthday in Hebrew?

You write יום הולדת שמח (yom huledet sameach). Hebrew reads right to left, so the words run in the other direction from English.

Does “yom huledet sameach” change for a man or a woman?

No. The greeting stays the same whoever you are wishing, which makes it an easy one to get right.

What is “mazal tov”?

מזל טוב (mazal tov) means “congratulations,” literally “good luck/good fortune.” Israelis use it for birthdays, weddings, new jobs, and good news in general.

What does “until 120” mean in Hebrew?

It is a traditional wish for a long life, עד מאה ועשרים (ad me’ah ve’esrim), tied to Moses living to 120. It is a warm thing to add to a birthday message.