Happy New Year in 25 Languages
QUICK ANSWER
Happy New Year in Spanish is “¡Feliz Año Nuevo!”, in French “Bonne Année!”, in Mandarin “新年快乐” (Xīnnián kuàilè) and in Arabic “كل عام وأنتم بخير”. The list below covers all 25 languages with phonetic pronunciation and a cultural note.
Last updated
“Happy New Year”: two words that echo around the globe on January 1. Here is how to say it in 25 languages, with a pronunciation guide and a short cultural note for each. Press the speaker button to hear a phrase read aloud by your browser.
Languages
Translations & Pronunciations
- 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
Chinese New Year greetings include 恭喜发财 (Gōng Xǐ Fā Cái), “wishing you prosperity” - Arabic
- سنة جديدة سعيدة
Sana Jadida Saida
Written right to left. A common New Year wish is كل عام وأنتم بخير (Kul aam wa antum bikhair), “May every year find you in good health” - 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 Russia's main winter holiday - Japanese
- あけましておめでとう
Akemashite omedetō
The first greeting of the new year, so it is said after midnight. Before the year ends, people say “yoi otoshi o” (have a good new year) - 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
Cotechino and lentils is a classic New Year's Eve dinner in Italy - Dutch
- Gelukkig Nieuwjaar
kheh-LUK-ikh NEE-oo-yahr
Oliebollen, Dutch doughnuts, are the traditional New Year's Eve snack - Turkish
- Mutlu Yıllar
MOOT-loo YIL-lar
Literally “Happy Years”. A more formal wish is “Yeni yılınız kutlu olsun” - Polish
- Szczęśliwego Nowego Roku
shchehng-SHLEE-veh-go no-VEH-go ROH-koo
New Year's Eve is called Sylwester in Poland - 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) on April 13–15 - Indonesian
- Selamat Tahun Baru
seh-LAH-mat TAH-hoon BAH-roo
Indonesia's national language, which most Indonesians speak as a second language alongside local ones - Greek
- Καλή Χρονιά
Kali Chronia
Families cut the vasilopita, a New Year cake with a hidden coin, 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's official Christmas holiday moved from January 7 to December 25 in 2023 - Tagalog (Filipino)
- Manigong Bagong Taon
mah-NEE-gong BAH-gong TAH-on
Filipinos make noise at midnight to scare away bad luck - Persian (Farsi)
- سال نو مبارک
Sal-e No Mobarak
Used for Nowruz (Persian New Year on the spring equinox), not January 1
Cities
Count down where these languages are spoken
Midnight arrives at a different moment in each of these cities. Pick one to count down to its New Year, or see where it is New Year right now.
FAQ
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). It is the first greeting of the new year, so it is said after midnight; before then people say “yoi otoshi o” (have a good new year).
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” (a good and happy new year).
How do you say Happy New Year in Mandarin Chinese?
Happy New Year in Mandarin Chinese is “新年快乐” (Xīn Nián Kuài Lè, pronounced sheen nyen kwai luh). For Chinese New Year (Spring Festival), “恭喜发财” (Gōng Xǐ Fā Cái, meaning “wishing you prosperity”) is also a traditional greeting.
Why is the Japanese Happy New Year only said after midnight?
In Japanese, akemashite omedetō means “congratulations on the new year”, and it is the traditional first greeting once the new year has begun. Before the year ends, people say “yoi otoshi o” (have a good new year) instead.
How do you say Happy New Year in Arabic?
In Arabic, a common New Year wish is “كل عام وأنتم بخير” (Kul aam wa antum bikhair, pronounced kul aam wa an-tum bi-khair), meaning “May every year find you in good health”. “سنة جديدة سعيدة” (Sana jadida saida) is the more literal “happy new year”.
How do you say Happy New Year in German?
In German, Happy New Year is “Frohes Neues Jahr!” (pronounced FRO-es NOY-es yahr). A common toast is “Prost Neujahr!” (Cheers to the New Year).
What is “Auld Lang Syne”?
Auld Lang Syne is a Scottish poem by Robert Burns (1788), based on an older folk song and set to a traditional Scots melody. It is sung at New Year in many countries. The title means “times gone by” or, literally, “old long since”. The song opens with the question “Should auld acquaintance be forgot, and never brought to mind?”