Happy New Year in 25 Languages
"Happy New Year" — two words that echo around the globe on January 1. Here is how to say it in 25 languages, complete with phonetic pronunciation guides and a brief cultural note for each.
Translations & Pronunciations
| Language | Phrase | Phonetic | Cultural Note | Hear It |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| English | Happy New Year | HAP-ee noo YEER | Said at midnight and throughout January 1 | |
| Spanish | Feliz Año Nuevo | feh-LEES AH-nyoh NWEH-voh | Spoken by 500M+ people; same phrase in all Spanish-speaking countries | |
| French | Bonne Année | bun ah-NAY | New Year's Eve is called La Saint-Sylvestre in France | |
| Mandarin Chinese | 新年快乐 | Xīn Nián Kuài Lè | For Chinese New Year, 恭喜发财 (Gōng Xǐ Fā Cái) is more traditional | |
| Arabic | سنة جديدة سعيدة | Sana Jadida Saida | Written right-to-left; widely spoken across the Arab world | |
| Portuguese | Feliz Ano Novo | feh-LEES AH-noo NOH-voo | Spoken in Brazil, Portugal, Angola, Mozambique, and more | |
| Russian | С Новым Годом | S NO-vim GO-dom | New Year (Novy God) is the most important holiday in Russia | |
| Japanese | あけましておめでとう | Akemashite omedetō | Only said after midnight on January 1; using it before is considered bad luck | |
| German | Frohes Neues Jahr | FROH-es NOY-es YAHR | Germans also say "Gutes Neues!" as a casual shortening | |
| Hindi | नव वर्ष की शुभकामनाएं | Nav Varsh Ki Shubhkamnayein | India also celebrates Diwali and other regional new years | |
| Korean | 새해 복 많이 받으세요 | Saehae bok mani badeuseyo | Literally "receive many blessings in the new year" | |
| Italian | Felice Anno Nuovo | feh-LEE-cheh AH-noh NWOH-voh | Italians eat lentils at midnight to symbolize wealth | |
| Dutch | Gelukkig Nieuwjaar | kheh-LUK-ikh NEE-oo-yahr | The Dutch celebrate with oliebollen (fried dough) and private fireworks | |
| Turkish | Mutlu Yıllar | MOOT-loo YIL-lar | Literally "Happy Years"; Istanbul's Bosphorus waterfront is a popular celebration spot | |
| Polish | Szczęśliwego Nowego Roku | shchehng-SHLEE-veh-go no-VEH-go ROH-koo | Often the first thing non-Polish speakers try to pronounce at New Year | |
| Swedish | Gott Nytt År | got nytt or | Also used in Norway (Godt Nytt År) and Denmark (Godt Nytår) | |
| Thai | สวัสดีปีใหม่ | Sawatdi Pi Mai | Thailand also celebrates Songkran (Thai New Year) in April | |
| Indonesian | Selamat Tahun Baru | seh-LAH-mat TAH-hoon BAH-roo | Fourth most spoken language by native speakers globally | |
| Greek | Καλή Χρονιά | Kali Chronia | Greeks traditionally hang an onion on their front door on New Year's Eve for good luck | |
| Hebrew | שנה טובה | Shanah Tovah | This greeting is for Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year), not January 1 | |
| Swahili | Heri ya Mwaka Mpya | HEH-ree yah MWAH-kah M-pyah | Spoken in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, and across East Africa | |
| Vietnamese | Chúc Mừng Năm Mới | chook moong nahm moy | Vietnam celebrates both January 1 and Tết (Lunar New Year) | |
| Ukrainian | З Новим Роком | Z NO-vim RO-kom | Ukraine celebrates both January 1 and Orthodox Christmas on January 7 | |
| Tagalog (Filipino) | Manigong Bagong Taon | mah-NEE-gong BAH-gong TAH-on | Filipinos make noise at midnight to ward off bad spirits | |
| Persian (Farsi) | سال نو مبارک | Sal-e No Mobarak | Used for Nowruz (Persian New Year on spring equinox), not January 1 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you say Happy New Year in Spanish?
"Happy New Year" in Spanish is Feliz Año Nuevo (pronounced: feh-LEES AH-nyoh NWEH-voh). This greeting is used throughout Spain and all Spanish-speaking Latin American countries.
How do you say Happy New Year in Japanese?
The formal Japanese greeting is あけましておめでとうございます (Akemashite omedetō gozaimasu). A common casual version is あけおめ (Akeome). Importantly, this greeting should only be said after midnight — using it before is considered bad luck in Japanese custom.
How do you say Happy New Year in French?
"Happy New Year" in French is Bonne Année (pronounced: bun ah-NAY). A slightly fuller phrase is "Bonne et Heureuse Année" (Happy and joyful New Year).
Why is the Japanese Happy New Year only said after midnight?
In Japanese custom, akemashite omedetō literally means "congratulations on the dawn of the new year." Since the new year hasn't dawned until midnight, using the greeting beforehand is considered culturally inappropriate. Before midnight, you would say yoi otoshi wo (have a good new year) instead.