Updated July 15, 2026 — Lesson written by French teacher David Issokson, with native audio by Marie Assel Cambier
Bon anniversaire meaning and pronunciation
Bon anniversaire means “happy birthday” in French. Literally, it translates to “good birthday,” but it’s used in exactly the same way as “happy birthday” in English. This is the most common and neutral way to wish someone well on their birthday, and it works in all situations — with friends, family, coworkers, and even in polite or professional contexts.
The pronunciation of bon anniversaire is /bɔ.n‿a.ni.vɛʁ.sɛʁ/, which sounds like “bohn-ah-nee-vehr-sehr.”
Example sentences
Bon anniversaire, Julie !
Happy birthday, Julie!
Bon anniversaire, mon ami ! Je pense à toi !
Happy birthday, my friend! I’m thinking of you!
Je te souhaite un bon anniversaire ! Amuse-toi bien aujourd’hui !
I wish you a happy birthday! Have a great time today!
Bon anniversaire ! Profite bien de ta journée !
Happy birthday! Enjoy your day
Other ways to say happy birthday in French
Besides bon anniversaire, French speakers use a few other expressions to wish someone a happy birthday, depending on context and region.
- joyeux anniversaire — joyous birthday
- meilleurs vœux — best wishes
- passez une merveilleuse journée — have a wonderful day
- bonne fête — Literally “good holiday” (more common in Canada)
⚠️ Bon anniversaire vs bonne anniversaire
Bon anniversaire is always masculine. The word anniversaire is masculine in French, so it must be bon, not bonne. This is a common mistake. Some learners think it’s feminine because the final n in bon is pronounced clearly before anniversaire, but this is due to liaison — not gender. Bonne anniversaire is incorrect and should never be written.
🔗 Related words and expressions
- fêter son anniversaire — to celebrate one’s birthday
- cadeau d’anniversaire — birthday gift
- gâteau d’anniversaire — birthday cake
- bougies d’anniversaire — birthday candles
- faire un vœu — to make a wish
- souffler les bougies — to blow out the candles
- profiter de sa journée — to enjoy one’s day
📚 Related lessons on FrenchLearner
👉 Cadeau (gift, present)
👉 French numbers 1-100
👉 Mastering dates in French
👉 Months of the year
👉 Saying the year in French
👉 Days of the week
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