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Birthday messages in French.
For her.

Joyeux anniversaire works for any woman. The feminine forms sit in the adjectives that follow, belle and chérie rather than beau and chéri.

The French birthday messages are sorted by who is signing: a close friend, family, the group, and short options for when you want the card to speak for itself.

Create a cardRead a sample card

Everyone's words in one card.

Updated

Marker lettering with a highlighter stroke. Happy birthday. You still can't fold a fitted sheet and that's fine.

Cette année t'a rendue plus forte. Ça se voit. Bonne fête.

From Priya

Bonne fête, ma fille. On t'aime plus qu'on ne sait le dire.

From Kofi

On est contents que tu sois née. Bonne fête.

From Rosa

Pick a design

  • A cupcake and the words one, two, twenty, forty. Happy birthday. We counted the candles. We ran out.
  • Marker lettering. Happy birthday. I got you a card. "present" is crossed out and "card" written above it.
  • A family holding hands. Hand in hand, same as always. Happy birthday.
  • A speech bubble. Happy birthday to our favourite person in the group chat. Don't tell the others.
  • Marker lettering with a highlighter stroke. Happy birthday. Stay exactly as you are. Maybe tidier.
  • Pop birthday card. Happy birthday.
  • A mug. Happy birthday to the one who knows how everyone takes their tea.
  • A birthday present. Happy birthday. Open it before the tea cools.
  • A cake. Happy birthday. Second slice is allowed. Third is between you and the fridge.
  • Midcentury birthday card. Happy birthday.

The question

Each writer gets a question.

One at a time, about Sam. They answer in their own words, or write without one.

Who they are to you
  1. Something Sam did this year that you still think about.
  2. Words of Sam's that you have caught yourself using.
  3. A day Sam made better just by turning up.
  4. Something Sam taught you without meaning to.
  5. A small thing about Sam that nobody else would notice.
  6. The story about Sam you tell most.
  1. The moment you knew you had a proper friend in Sam.
  2. Something Sam did that only a friend would.
  3. A thing you still laugh about together.
  4. The time Sam turned up when it mattered.
  5. Something Sam knew about you before you said it.
  1. Something Sam did for the family that went unsaid.
  2. A habit of Sam's that you have caught yourself copying.
  3. A memory of Sam from when you were younger.
  4. Something Sam put up with from you.
  5. Something Sam taught you, mostly by example.
  1. A small thing Sam did that you noticed and never mentioned.
  2. The moment you knew.
  3. Something Sam did this year that made things easier for you.
  4. A thing about Sam you would not change.
  5. Something Sam carried that was yours to carry.
  1. The thing you go to Sam for.
  2. Something you picked up from working beside Sam.
  3. A bad day at work that Sam turned round.
  4. Something a new starter should be told about Sam.
  5. Something Sam did that made the job feel worth doing.

Or write without one.

French birthday messages for her

Pick a group, swap in her name, and sign.

From a close friend

  • Joyeux anniversaire, ma belle. Tu mérites cette journée et toutes celles qui suivent.

  • Tu n'as pas changé d'un an. C'est faux, bien sûr, mais on aime te le dire.

  • Bonne fête, mon amie. Le rosé est au frais et la soirée est à toi.

  • Je suis fière de toi chaque jour, et plus encore aujourd'hui. Joyeux anniversaire.

  • Cette année t'a rendue plus forte. Ça se voit. Bonne fête.

From family

  • Joyeux anniversaire, ma chérie. On pense à toi toute la journée.

  • Tu grandis chaque année et tu nous surprends à chaque fois. Bonne fête.

  • Bonne fête, ma fille. On t'aime plus qu'on ne sait le dire.

  • On est si fiers de la femme que tu es devenue. Joyeux anniversaire.

  • Toutes nos pensées sont pour toi aujourd'hui. Bon anniversaire, ma sœur.

From the group

  • Joyeux anniversaire de notre part à tous. On te souhaite une belle journée.

  • On est contents que tu sois née. Bonne fête.

  • Tu es notre préférée du groupe. Ne le répète pas. Joyeux anniversaire.

  • Bonne fête, notre chère amie. Profite bien de cette journée.

Short

  • Belle journée pour toi.

  • Bonne fête, belle.

  • On t'aime. Bon anniversaire.

  • Tu es formidable. Joyeux anniversaire.

Funny

  • Un an de plus, toujours aussi belle. Ce n'est vraiment pas juste.

  • Joyeux anniversaire. L'âge te réussit. On ne sait pas comment tu fais.

  • Tu vieillis mieux que nous tous. On t'en veut un peu. Bonne fête.

  • Bon anniversaire. On ne dira pas le chiffre, mais on est impressionnés.

What not to write

Joyeuse anniversaire is the common mistake. Anniversaire is masculine in French, so it is always Joyeux. Anyone who knows French will notice.

Don't use English as a safety net. A French message stands on its own. Writing Joyeux anniversaire (Happy Birthday) in brackets is not a French message, it is an apology for one.

The feminine ending matters in the adjectives. Belle not beau, forte not fort, chérie not chéri. Get it right or use a word that stays the same, like magnifique or formidable.

Don't pad the message. One good French wish, signed with a name, is enough.

One card from everyone

Set the date, send one link, and it opens on her birthday.

  1. 01

    Set her birthday.

    The card opens that morning. Pick the date and it stays locked until then.

  2. 02

    Send the link.

    Everyone gets one link. They write in French, English, or both. No app needed.

  3. 03

    She reads it on her phone.

    Every message signed by name. One card from everyone who wanted to sign it.

Create a card

Questions

Is it Joyeux or Joyeuse anniversaire?

Always Joyeux. Anniversaire is masculine in French, so the adjective stays masculine too. Joyeuse anniversaire is the mistake most people make.

Do I need to write the whole card in French?

No. One French message among English ones still lands well. Use the phrase that fits and sign it.

What are the feminine forms of common birthday compliments?

Belle (beautiful), forte (strong), brillante (brilliant), courageuse (brave). Most adjectives add an -e for feminine. Magnifique and formidable stay the same.

Part of group birthday card.

More guides

Somebody has a day coming up.

Create a card

Everyone's words in one card.