How to Say Happy Birthday in Irish

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Last Updated: February 24, 2025 Fact Checked

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• Saying Happy Birthday
|
• Singing the Birthday Song
|
• Video
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• Q&A

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Celebrating an Irish birthday? Here's how to say Happy Birthday to somebody in Irish.

Steps

Part 1

Part 1 of 2:

Saying Happy Birthday

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1. 
   1
   Be aware that it is possible to use one of two ways to say Happy Birthday to others. In Irish, you can use two different words for "birthday":

   • Lá breithe; or
   • Breithlá.
2. 
   2
   Learn how to say Happy Birthday using the two different methods:

   • Say "Lá breithe shona duit" - Happy birthday to you - Law breh-ha shun-ah ditch
   • Say "Breithlá shona duit" - Happy birthday to you - Breh-law shun-ah ditch.
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Part 2

Part 2 of 2:

Singing the Birthday Song

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1. 
   1
   Learn the Irish version of the Happy Birthday song. Here's how the song goes:

   • Lá breithe shona duit, lá breithe shona duit, lá breithe shona [name], lá breithe shona duit.
2. 
   2
   Here's the pronunciation:

   • Law breh-ha hun-ah ditch - Lá breithe shona duit
   • Law breh-ha hun-ah [name] - Lá breithe shona [name]
3. 
   3
   Learn other relevant exclamations. For example:

   • Hip-Hip Hooray! - Heip-heip abú! - Hep hep aboo.
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Community Q&A

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• Question

  How do I say, "Happy birthday, Patrick!" in Gaelic?

  

  Keelan

  Community Answer

  Translation: "Lá breithe shona duit, a Phádraig!"

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  Thank you for your feedback.
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  Not Helpful 34 Helpful 30
• Question

  It's "La breithe sona", not "shona" because la is masculine. If that were correct, I'd use this resource in my class.

  

  Bookwormara

  Community Answer

  We will change this article to reflect your suggestions. Thanks for your input!

  Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
  Thank you for your feedback.
  If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow

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  Not Helpful 16 Helpful 34
• Question

  How do I say, "Happy Birthday, my Irish Love"?

  

  Keelan

  Community Answer

  Lá breithe shona duit, a chroí Ghaelach.

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  Thank you for your feedback.
  If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow

  Yes No

  Not Helpful 28 Helpful 9

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