- tbf
- group birthday card
- Happy birthday in French Canadian
Happy birthday in Quebec French.
What to write.
In Quebec French, the phrase is Bonne fête, not Joyeux anniversaire. That is the European version, and Québécois notice the difference.
Below are French Canadian birthday messages for a card, sorted by who is signing.
Create a cardRead a sample card
Everyone's words in one card.
Updated
Ce soir on fête comme du monde. Bonne fête.
Profite de chaque minute aujourd'hui. Bonne fête.
T'es pas vieux, t'es vintage. Bonne fête.
Pick a design
The question
Each writer gets a question.
One at a time, about Sam. They answer in their own words, or write without one.
- Something Sam did this year that you still think about.
- Words of Sam's that you have caught yourself using.
- A day Sam made better just by turning up.
- Something Sam taught you without meaning to.
- A small thing about Sam that nobody else would notice.
- The story about Sam you tell most.
- The moment you knew you had a proper friend in Sam.
- Something Sam did that only a friend would.
- A thing you still laugh about together.
- The time Sam turned up when it mattered.
- Something Sam knew about you before you said it.
- Something Sam did for the family that went unsaid.
- A habit of Sam's that you have caught yourself copying.
- A memory of Sam from when you were younger.
- Something Sam put up with from you.
- Something Sam taught you, mostly by example.
- A small thing Sam did that you noticed and never mentioned.
- The moment you knew.
- Something Sam did this year that made things easier for you.
- A thing about Sam you would not change.
- Something Sam carried that was yours to carry.
- The thing you go to Sam for.
- Something you picked up from working beside Sam.
- A bad day at work that Sam turned round.
- Something a new starter should be told about Sam.
- Something Sam did that made the job feel worth doing.
Or write without one.
Happy birthday messages in French Canadian
Pick one, add a real detail if you have one, and sign your name.
From a close friend
Bonne fête, mon chum. T'as pas vieilli d'un poil.
Ce soir on fête comme du monde. Bonne fête.
Je pense à toi aujourd'hui. Bonne fête, mon ami.
T'es pas obligé d'être raisonnable aujourd'hui. Bonne fête.
On est chanceux de t'avoir dans notre vie. Bonne fête.
From family
Bonne fête, mon amour. Toute la famille pense à toi aujourd'hui.
T'as grandi trop vite. On est fiers de toi. Bonne fête.
Profite de chaque minute aujourd'hui. Bonne fête.
On t'aime plus que les mots peuvent dire. Bonne fête.
Funny
Bonne fête. On a compté les chandelles pis on a arrêté.
Un autre tour du soleil, pis t'en fais encore. Bonne fête.
T'es pas vieux, t'es vintage. Bonne fête.
La seule journée de l'année où le gâteau au déjeuner, c'est correct. Bonne fête.
Short
Bonne fête.
On t'aime. Bonne fête.
Cent ans de bonheur.
Ta journée, tes règles. Bonne fête.
What to leave out
Do not write Joyeux anniversaire if you want it to sound Québécois. It is correct French, but in Quebec the song goes Bonne fête, and that is what people expect to read.
Do not add an English translation underneath. Pick one language and write in it. Two versions of the same wish read as uncertain.
Do not use vous in a personal card. Quebec French is almost always tu with friends and family, and vous sounds cold in this context.
Do not skip the accents. Bonne fete without the circumflex on fête is a small thing in a message, but in a written card it is the kind of detail people notice.
One card from everyone
One link goes round, and the card opens on the birthday.
- 01
Set the birthday as the open date.
The card arrives that morning and not before.
- 02
Send the link to everyone signing.
Each person writes their own message, once, from a browser.
- 03
They read it on the day.
Every message, every name. No chasing people with a piece of paper.
Questions
Is it Bonne fête or Joyeux anniversaire in Quebec?
Bonne fête is the Quebec standard. Joyeux anniversaire is more common in France and in formal contexts. Most Québécois use Bonne fête in cards and conversation.
How do you pronounce Bonne fête?
Roughly: bun fet. The accent on the e in fête makes it a longer vowel, closer to the English word fate than fete.
Can I write Bonne fête even if I am not French Canadian?
Yes. Writing in the person's language is a mark of care, not a claim of fluency. Keep it short and spell it correctly.
Somebody has a day coming up.
Everyone's words in one card.