How to say "Happy Birthday" in Punjabi — "Janamdin diyan vadhaaiyan" or "Janamdin mubarak" — plus warm birthday wishes and blessings to add.
"Happy Birthday" in Punjabi is "Janamdin diyan vadhaaiyan" (ਜਨਮਦਿਨ ਦੀਆਂ ਵਧਾਈਆਂ) or "Janamdin mubarak" (ਜਨਮਦਿਨ ਮੁਬਾਰਕ). Janamdin means "birthday", vadhaaiyan means "congratulations", and mubarak means "blessed".
"Happy Birthday" in Punjabi
| Phrase | Gurmukhi | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Janamdin diyan vadhaaiyan | ਜਨਮਦਿਨ ਦੀਆਂ ਵਧਾਈਆਂ | Congratulations on your birthday |
| Janamdin mubarak | ਜਨਮਦਿਨ ਮੁਬਾਰਕ | Blessed birthday |
| Janamdin mubarak hove | ਜਨਮਦਿਨ ਮੁਬਾਰਕ ਹੋਵੇ | May your birthday be blessed (warmer) |
| Lakh lakh vadhaaiyan | ਲੱਖ ਲੱਖ ਵਧਾਈਆਂ | A hundred thousand congratulations (very warm) |
Both vadhaaiyan and mubarak are correct — mubarak is the slightly more formal, Perso-Arabic word you'll also hear across Punjab and Pakistan.
Birthday Wishes and Blessings
| Wish | Gurmukhi | Romanized |
|---|---|---|
| May God give you a long life | ਰੱਬ ਤੁਹਾਨੂੰ ਲੰਮੀ ਉਮਰ ਦੇਵੇ | Rabb tuhanu lammi umar deve |
| May your day be full of joy | ਤੁਹਾਡਾ ਦਿਨ ਖੁਸ਼ੀਆਂ ਨਾਲ ਭਰਿਆ ਹੋਵੇ | Tuhada din khushiyan naal bhareya hove |
| Always stay happy | ਹਮੇਸ਼ਾ ਖੁਸ਼ ਰਹੋ | Hamesha khush raho |
A Cultural Note
In Punjabi families, birthdays often begin with a blessing from elders rather than a card. You'll hear "Jeonde raho" (ਜੀਉਂਦੇ ਰਹੋ) — "live long" — and many families mark the day with an ardas (prayer) and sweets shared around. Adding a blessing to your wish makes it feel far more heartfelt than "happy birthday" alone.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you say happy birthday in Punjabi?
Say "Janamdin diyan vadhaaiyan" (ਜਨਮਦਿਨ ਦੀਆਂ ਵਧਾਈਆਂ) or "Janamdin mubarak" (ਜਨਮਦਿਨ ਮੁਬਾਰਕ).
What does "mubarak" mean in Punjabi?
Mubarak (ਮੁਬਾਰਕ) means "blessed" or "congratulations", and is used for birthdays, weddings, and festivals alike.
How do you wish someone a long life in Punjabi?
Say "Jeonde raho" (ਜੀਉਂਦੇ ਰਹੋ, "live long") or "Rabb lammi umar deve" (may God grant a long life) — both are traditional blessings from elders.
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