The short answer: जन्मदिनको शुभकामना (janmadin ko shubhakāmanā) is how you say “Happy Birthday” in Nepali.
It breaks down simply: janmadin (जन्मदिन) means “birthday” (literally “birth-day”), and shubhakāmanā (शुभकामना) means “good wishes” — the same word Nepali uses for well-wishes in lots of other greetings too.
The main phrase
| Nepali | Romanized | English | |
|---|---|---|---|
| जन्मदिनको शुभकामना | janmadin ko shubhakāmanā | Happy Birthday |
Warmer, longer versions
Like English has “many happy returns of the day” as a fuller version of “happy birthday,” Nepali has longer forms too — useful for a card or a more heartfelt message rather than a quick text.
| Nepali | Romanized | English | |
|---|---|---|---|
| तपाईंलाई जन्मदिनको धेरै धेरै शुभकामना | tapāʼīnlāʼī janmadin ko dherai dherai shubhakāmanā | Many, many happy returns of the day (formal) | |
| तिम्रो जन्मदिन मुबारक होस् | timro janmadin mubārak hos | May your birthday be blessed (informal, warm) |
Related phrases
| Nepali | Romanized | English | |
|---|---|---|---|
| बधाई छ | badhāʼī cha | Congratulations | |
| दीर्घनायु हुन् | dīrghanāyu hun | May you live long (traditional elder-to-younger blessing) |
How birthdays are actually celebrated in Nepal
Cakes and candles have become common in Nepal, especially in cities, but there’s also a distinct tradition: elders in the family may put tikā (a mark of rice, yogurt, and vermillion) on the birthday person’s forehead and give a blessing for a long life — that’s where dīrghanāyu hun above comes from. In many communities, turning a milestone age (like a child’s first birthday, or an elder’s 77th, 84th, or 99th) involves a bigger ceremony than an ordinary year.
So if you’re wishing a Nepali friend a happy birthday, janmadin ko shubhakāmanā covers it perfectly for a text or card — but don’t be surprised if the actual celebration looks a little different from a Western birthday party.
Practice it
Tap the audio button (🔊) on any phrase above to hear it. You can also find these and hundreds more words in the Nepali Dictionary, or drill them with Flashcards.