Ok Google How Do You Say Happy Birthday in Spanish? | Say It

In Spanish, “Happy Birthday” is “Feliz cumpleaños” (feh-LEES koom-play-AHN-yos).

You can ask a phone or smart speaker to translate a phrase in a second. The part that trips people up is what comes after the translation: saying it out loud, spelling it right, and choosing a version that matches the moment. This page does those parts with you, step by step, so you can say a birthday wish that sounds natural, not copied.

You’ll get the standard phrase, clear pronunciation, a few common alternatives, and short message lines you can use in a card or text. You’ll also see what changes when you say “Ok Google” out loud: accent marks, regional choices, and when “felicidades” fits better than “feliz cumpleaños.”

Feliz Cumpleaños: The Standard Phrase And How To Say It

If you only learn one option, make it “Feliz cumpleaños.” It’s the everyday wish across Spanish-speaking countries. It works for friends, family, coworkers, and most polite situations.

Pronunciation That Sounds Natural

Spanish pronunciation is steady once you know where the stress falls. In “Feliz,” the stress lands on the last syllable: feh-LEES. In “cumpleaños,” the stress lands on “a” in “años”: koom-play-AHN-yos.

Two quick tips help it sound smooth. First, keep the vowels short and clean: “eh” in feh, “ee” in lees. Second, treat “ñ” as “ny,” like “canyon” without the “ca.” That turns años into “AHN-yos.”

Spelling And The Accent Mark

Written Spanish uses accent marks to show stress and, at times, to prevent mix-ups. “Cumpleaños” includes “ñ” and an accent in “años.” If you’re typing on a phone, long-press the letter to pick “ñ.” For the accent, long-press “a” to select “á.”

Spanish academies treat “cumpleaños” as a noun that keeps the same form in singular and plural (“el cumpleaños,” “los cumpleaños”), and “cumpleaño” isn’t accepted. You can check both the dictionary definition and usage notes in the Real Academia Española’s entries for DLE “cumpleaños” and the Diccionario panhispánico de dudas note.

What Google Hears When You Say The Phrase

When you say “Ok Google” and ask for a translation, the assistant may show you one Spanish line, then speak it with a voice model that has its own rhythm. That’s fine for a first pass. Still, the screen text is the part you should trust for spelling, accents, and punctuation.

Useful Voice Prompts To Get The Right Output

Try prompts that force the result into a usable format, not just a spoken clip:

• “Ok Google, translate ‘Happy Birthday’ to Spanish and spell it.”
• “Ok Google, how do you pronounce ‘Feliz cumpleaños’?”
• “Ok Google, translate ‘Happy Birthday, Ana’ to Spanish.”
• “Ok Google, show me the Spanish with accents.”

If your assistant offers more than one line, pick the one that includes the accent in “cumpleaños.” If it drops accents, treat the output as a rough hint, then correct the spelling before you send it.

Why The Result Changes Between Devices

Phones, speakers, and browsers can return slightly different results because they use different translation surfaces and settings. Your device language, typing setup language, and the app you’re viewing in can all affect what shows up. If you see odd spacing or missing marks, switch your typing setup to Spanish for a moment, type the phrase, then switch back.

Ok Google, How Do You Say Happy Birthday In Spanish? Settings That Change The Result

If you ask the exact question in the title, you’ll usually get “Feliz cumpleaños.” When you don’t, it’s often a settings issue rather than “wrong Spanish.” Here are the common switches that change what you see.

Assistant Language And Voice Region

If your assistant is set to English only, it may answer with a translation but pronounce it with English speech habits. Adding Spanish as a second assistant language can improve pronunciation and sometimes makes accents show up more consistently. After you add Spanish, repeat the prompt and compare the on-screen text.

Typing Setup And Autocorrect

Autocorrect can remove accent marks or “fix” a Spanish word into an English-looking form. When you’re sending a birthday text, switch the typing setup language to Spanish. Type “feliz” and “cumpleaños,” then switch back. It takes seconds and prevents most spelling slips.

Voice Recognition With Names

Names can confuse voice recognition. If you’re adding a name, say it twice: once in English, once with a Spanish-friendly sound. If that feels awkward, keep the wish in Spanish and type the name yourself.

Alternatives That Spanish Speakers Use A Lot

“Feliz cumpleaños” is the workhorse. Still, people often switch to shorter birthday wishes, especially in texts, group chats, or quick in-person moments.

Felicidades

“Felicidades” means “congratulations” and also works as “happy birthday” in casual use. It’s short, friendly, and common in messages. The Instituto Cervantes lists “¡Felicidades!” and “¡Feliz cumpleaños!” as standard ways to congratulate someone on a birthday in its Plan Curricular inventory (Felicitar).

Muchas Felicidades

“Muchas felicidades” adds warmth without turning the message into a speech. It’s common in cards and in slightly more formal notes. Use it with coworkers, neighbors, and older relatives when you want a polite tone.

Que Cumplas Muchos Más

This line means “may you have many more” (birthdays). You’ll hear it during a birthday song or right after cake candles. It pairs well with “feliz cumpleaños,” or it can stand on its own in a short toast.

Table Of Birthday Wishes, Best Use, And Tone

The phrases below cover most birthday situations, from a quick text to a card for a boss. Pick one line, then add a short personal note so it feels meant for the person.

Spanish Phrase	When It Fits	Notes On Tone
Feliz cumpleaños	Most birthdays, spoken or written	Neutral, safe, widely used
¡Felicidades!	Texts, quick wishes, group chats	Short and friendly
Muchas felicidades	Cards, polite messages, coworkers	Warm with a formal edge
Que cumplas muchos más	After singing, during cake or a toast	Celebratory, often said out loud
Feliz cumple	Close friends, casual chat	Abbreviated; skip it in formal notes
Feliz cumpleaños, [Nombre]	Any time you want it personal	Add the name after the wish
Te deseo un gran día	Cards, longer texts	Focuses on the day, not age
Que la pases lindo	Many Latin American settings	Casual; regional feel
Que cumplas muchos años más	More explicit toast line	Slightly longer, still common

Regional Notes That Help You Avoid Awkward Choices

Spanish is shared, yet each region has its habits. Most of the time, “feliz cumpleaños” lands well everywhere. The tweaks below help when you’re writing to someone from a specific place.

Spain

In Spain, “Feliz cumpleaños” and “Felicidades” are common. “Feliz cumple” shows up with friends in texts. If you’re writing to someone you don’t know well, stick to the full phrase.

Mexico And Central America

You’ll hear “Felicidades” a lot, plus longer wishes like “Que te la pases bien.” In writing, people often add a warm closing line like “Un abrazo” when the relationship fits.

Caribbean Spanish

Short wishes are popular in casual settings. You may see “Feliz cumple” or quick voice notes with the phrase said fast. If you want to sound neutral across regions, write “Feliz cumpleaños” and keep the rest simple.

Southern Cone

Argentina, Uruguay, and parts of Chile may use different everyday pronouns in conversation. That doesn’t change the birthday wish itself. “Feliz cumpleaños” stays the same. A toast line like “Que cumplas muchos más” still works well.

Writing A Birthday Text Or Card In Spanish

A wish alone is fine. A wish plus one personal line feels better. Keep it short, keep it direct, and match your relationship with the person.

Short Text Templates

• “Feliz cumpleaños, [Nombre]. ¡Que tengas un día lindo!”
• “¡Felicidades! Te mando un abrazo.”
• “Muchas felicidades. Disfruta tu día.”
• “Feliz cumpleaños. Que cumplas muchos más.”

Card-Style Notes That Still Feel Simple

If you want two or three lines, try a structure like this: wish + wish + closing. Here are a few options you can adjust:

• “Feliz cumpleaños, [Nombre]. Gracias por ser parte de mi vida. Un abrazo.”
• “Muchas felicidades. Que este año te traiga salud y alegrías. Con cariño.”
• “Feliz cumpleaños. Te deseo un año lleno de buenos momentos. Un saludo.”

Table Of Common Mistakes And Fast Fixes

These are the mistakes people make when they rely on a voice translation and hit send. A small tweak makes the message look clean.

Mistake	Fix	Why It Matters
Typing “cumpleanos”	Type “cumpleaños”	“ñ” changes the word; “años” means “years”
Using “cumpleaño”	Use “cumpleaños” for one or many	Academic usage notes reject “cumpleaño”
Over-formal text to a close friend	Use “¡Felicidades!” or “Feliz cumple”	Match the tone of your relationship
Ultra-casual text to a boss	Use “Feliz cumpleaños” or “Muchas felicidades”	Keeps it polite without sounding stiff
Assistant speaks it fast, you copy the sound	Read the text, then say it slowly once	Stress and vowels land better
Autocorrect removes accents	Switch typing setup to Spanish while typing	Accents and “ñ” stay intact
Using “Feliz aniversario” for birthdays	Use “Feliz cumpleaños” instead	“Aniversario” can mean other anniversaries

One-Minute Practice To Say It Confidently

If you want the phrase to roll off your tongue, do a quick drill. It takes a minute and makes the wish sound steady.

1. Say “feh-LEES” once, then twice, keeping the “s” at the end crisp.
2. Say “koom-play-AHN-yos” slowly, then speed it up a little.
3. Put it together: “Feliz cumpleaños.” Pause after “Feliz,” then say the second word.
4. Say it with a name: “Feliz cumpleaños, Ana.”

When You Want Google To Help With More Than Translation

After you have the phrase, your device can help with timing and delivery. You can ask it to set a reminder, start a timer for baking, or play a birthday song. Google has shared voice ideas like “Hey Google, sing me Happy Birthday!” on its official blog post about voice actions: “20 things you can do with your voice”.

Still, translation is the only part that needs Spanish spelling. For messages, it’s better to type the final line yourself so accents and names stay correct.