Happy Birthday in Turkish: İyi ki Doğdun and 12 Wishes for Family
Happy birthday in Turkish is Dogum gunun kutlu olsun or Iyi ki dogdun. What each means, how to say it, the polite form and 12 wishes for family.
The most common way to say happy birthday in Turkish is Doğum günün kutlu olsun! The warmest is İyi ki doğdun!, "I'm so glad you were born." Here is what each one means, how to say it out loud, the polite form for elders, twelve short wishes for family and friends, what to say when you missed the day, and what to write in a card.
The two phrases to know
- Doğum günün kutlu olsun! Say it doh-oom gü-nün koot-loo ol-soon. This is the standard "happy birthday". It works for friends, family and people you know from work.
- İyi ki doğdun! Say it ee-yee kee doh-doon. This one is warmer and more personal, so it suits family and close friends.
Many people say both, one after the other. These sound hints are close, not exact. The soft ğ has no hard "g" sound and makes the vowel before it longer. The ü is like the German ü or the French u in tu. Our Turkish alphabet guide has a sound hint for every letter.
What "İyi ki doğdun" means, word by word
İyi means "good", and iyi ki means "it is good that". Doğdun means "you were born". So the phrase says "it is good that you were born", and in natural English, "I'm so glad you were born." People often add iyi ki varsın, "I'm so glad you are here."
In the other phrase, doğum günü means "birthday", and kutlu olsun is a celebration phrase that Turkish also uses for holidays. It wishes the person a happy day.
12 birthday wishes for family and friends
Each line works in a card, a text message or out loud at the table. The English gives the meaning, not a word-for-word translation. The ending -ciğim or -cığım adds "my dear".
| For | Turkish | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Mom | İyi ki doğdun, anneciğim. | I'm so glad you were born, my dear mom. |
| Mom | Doğum günün kutlu olsun, anneciğim. Seni çok seviyorum. | Happy birthday, my dear mom. I love you very much. |
| Dad | İyi ki doğdun, babacığım. | I'm so glad you were born, my dear dad. |
| Dad | Nice mutlu yıllara, babacığım. | Here's to many more happy years, my dear dad. |
| Grandma | İyi ki doğdun, anneanneciğim. | I'm so glad you were born, my dear grandma. Use babaanneciğim for a father's mother. |
| Grandpa | Doğum gününüz kutlu olsun, dedeciğim. | Happy birthday, my dear grandpa. This is the polite form. |
| Brother or sister | İyi ki doğdun, kardeşim. | I'm so glad you were born, my brother (or sister). |
| A friend | İyi ki doğdun, iyi ki varsın. | I'm so glad you were born, and so glad you are here. |
| A friend | Yeni yaşın kutlu olsun, canım arkadaşım. | May your new age be a happy one, my dear friend. |
| Anyone close | Umarım tüm dileklerin gerçek olur. | I hope all your wishes come true. |
| A son or a daughter | İyi ki doğdun, canım oğlum. | I'm so glad you were born, my dear son. Use canım kızım for a daughter. |
| A child | Mumları üfle, bir dilek tut! | Blow out the candles and make a wish! |
For more about anneanne, babaanne and dede, see Gifts for Turkish Grandparents.
Formal or casual: Doğum gününüz kutlu olsun
Turkish has two words for "you". Sen is for one person you know well, and siz is for an elder, a boss, or someone you have just met. The wish changes with it. To a friend, say Doğum günün kutlu olsun. To your boss or a friend's parent, say Doğum gününüz kutlu olsun. For a formal message, Doğum gününüzü kutlarım means "I celebrate your birthday." If you are not sure, use the polite form.
The birthday song
A birthday at home looks familiar: a meal or a party with family and friends, a cake with candles, and gifts. Turkish families sing the birthday song to the same tune as the English one. The words vary. Many people sing İyi ki doğdun and add the person's name, and others sing Mutlu yıllar. If you will sing at a party, ask which one the family uses, and then join in.
Late wishes: when you missed the day
It happens. Two phrases cover it:
- Geçmiş doğum günün kutlu olsun. "Happy belated birthday." Geçmiş means "past".
- Geç de olsa doğum günün kutlu olsun. "Happy birthday, even if it is late."
Be careful with one thing. Do not shorten the first line to Geçmiş olsun. That is what people say to someone who is sick or going through a hard time. It means "may it pass".
What to write in a card, and a small gift to go with it
Write the Turkish line first and the English under it, so everyone can read it. Keep the Turkish letters if you can, since they show a little extra care. To finish, En iyi dileklerimle means "with my best wishes".
We do not have a card with a birthday wish on the front, so your own handwriting does that job. The Sana Da greeting cards show a blue bead, a tea glass, a simit, a tulip and a hot-air balloon with the words "Sana da", "this too, for you". The İki Dil, İki Kat Muhabbet greeting cards show Pingucan, the penguin in the red scarf, saying "Merhaba!" and "Hello!", which suits a two-language family. Both come as a pack of 10 folded cards, and envelopes are not included.
For a gift with a birthday in the picture, the Birthday Table with Pingucan jigsaw puzzle shows Pingucan and a girl at a little table with a cake. It comes in 252 or 520 pieces. There are eight more scenes in the Scene Puzzles collection, and you can browse other small gifts too.
FAQ
How do you answer a birthday wish in Turkish?
Say Teşekkür ederim, "thank you", or the friendlier Sağ ol.
Does Mutlu yıllar mean happy birthday or happy new year?
Both. Mutlu yıllar means "happy years", and people use it for birthdays and for the new year. Our guide How to Say Happy New Year in Turkish covers the New Year side.
Can I type it without Turkish letters?
Yes. Iyi ki dogdun is still easy to read in a text message. People on social media also shorten the phrase to DGKO, from Doğum Günün Kutlu Olsun.