How to say “happy birthday” in Thai

How to say it

สุขสันต์sùk-sǎn is a slightly formal word for "happy" that Thais use for occasions: it also starts New Year's, Valentine's and Mother's Day wishes. วันเกิดwan-gòet is วันwan (day) + เกิดgòet (to be born). So the phrase is simply "happy day-you-were-born".

It's four syllables with a pleasant up-and-down pattern: sùk (low, the k cut off), sǎn (rising), wan (mid), gòet (low, ending in an unreleased t). The vowel in gòet is the one in British "bird" without the r, which is why you'll see spellings like suk san wan kerd and wan gerd. The Thai g sits between English g and k.

Wishes with ขอให้kǎw-hâi

Thais rarely stop at "happy birthday". They add blessings that start with ขอให้kǎw-hâi, "may you…" or "I wish that…":

• ขอให้มีความสุขมากๆkǎw-hâi mii kwaam-sùk mâak-mâak: lots of happiness
• ขอให้สุขภาพแข็งแรงkǎw-hâi sùk-kà-pâap kǎeng-raeng: good health (the one for parents and grandparents)
• ขอให้สมหวังทุกอย่างkǎw-hâi sǒm-wǎng túk yàang: may all your wishes come true
• รวยๆเฮงๆruay-ruay heng-heng: rich and lucky, the cheeky one between friends

Stack two or three in a message and add นะná at the end. The birthday person replies ขอบคุณkàwp-kun, or with a grin, สาธุsǎa-tú, the word Buddhists use to accept a blessing.

Birthdays in Thailand

Many Thais start their birthday by making merit: giving food to monks on their morning alms round or visiting a temple (ทำบุญtam-bun). Later there's cake, a song and, very often, the birthday person paying for dinner: treating friends or colleagues (เลี้ยงlíang) is a common way to celebrate, so don't be surprised if your Thai friend insists on picking up the bill.

Thais also know the day of the week they were born on, not just the date. Each day has its own colour and Buddha image, so คุณเกิดวันอะไรkun gòet wan à-rai ("what day were you born?") is a real conversation starter.

The birthday song

At most parties Thais sing the familiar tune in English, and often a second round in Thai with สุขสันต์วันเกิดsùk-sǎn wan-gòet in place of "happy birthday to you". Then someone calls เป่าเทียนเลยbpào tian loei, "blow out the candles!"

In messages

On LINE and Facebook you'll see HBD, สุขสันต์วันเกิดนะsùk-sǎn wan-gòet ná with a cake sticker, and long chains of wishes. If you missed the day, สุขสันต์วันเกิดย้อนหลังsùk-sǎn wan-gòet yáwn-lǎng is the belated version.