The New Year brings a chance for new beginnings, thrilling opportunities, and joyful celebrations worldwide. One of the best ways to embrace this festive spirit is by learning to say “Happy New Year” in various languages.
Either you are traveling, reaching out to friends in different countries, or just want to make your holiday greetings more special, being able to wish someone joy in their own language adds a personal touch to the celebration.
We’re excited to take you on a fun linguistic adventure around the world! We’ll explore over 70 cheerful ways to say “Happy New Year” in different languages.
From French to Swahili, Mandarin to Māori, these phrases are more than just nice words—they’re a special way to spread joy, show appreciation, and celebrate our hopes for the year to come.
Let’s jump in together and make your New Year wishes extra special and unforgettable!
Tips for Using New Year Greetings
Here are some tips to make your New Year greetings thoughtful and impactful:
1. Personalize Your Greeting
When using a New Year greeting in a different language, add a personal touch. Mention the recipient’s name, share a fond memory, or include a specific wish for their happiness and success in the coming year.
Example:
“Feliz Año Nuevo, Maria! Wishing you lots of love and laughter in 2025!”
2. Practice Pronunciation
If you’re saying the greeting aloud, take a moment to learn the correct pronunciation. It shows respect for the language and makes the greeting more meaningful. A quick online search or listening to a native speaker can make all the difference.
3. Match the Tone to the Relationship
Keep the tone appropriate to the person you’re greeting. Use formal phrases for colleagues or acquaintances and more casual or playful expressions for friends and family.
Example (Formal):
“Bonne année et meilleurs vœux pour 2024.” (French for “Happy New Year and best wishes for 2024.”)
Example (Casual):
“Happy New Year, buddy! Let’s make it an epic one!”
4. Be Mindful of Cultural Differences
Some cultures celebrate the New Year on different dates or have specific customs tied to the holiday. If you know this about the person, tailor your greeting to their traditions.
Example:
For Chinese New Year, say: “新年快乐! (Xīn Nián Kuài Lè)”
5. Use Greetings in Context
When sending a greeting in a different language, consider including the English translation if your audience may not understand it. It makes your message more inclusive and ensures the sentiment is clear.
Example:
“Frohes neues Jahr! (That’s German for ‘Happy New Year!’)”
6. Add a Visual or Creative Element
If you’re sharing your New Year greeting on social media or in a card, pair the phrase with an image, festive emoji, or even a short story about what the New Year means to you.
Example:
“🎉 Hauʻoli Makahiki Hou from sunny Hawaii! 🌺 Here’s to more adventures in 2025!”
7. Keep It Warm and Heartfelt
No matter the language or format, the key to a memorable greeting is sincerity. Let your message reflect genuine care and positive wishes for the recipient’s year ahead.
Using these tips, you’ll not only master the art of New Year greetings but also create a connection that makes the celebration feel even more special.
So go ahead—start practicing, personalize your messages, and get ready to spread the joy!
Explore 70+ fun ways people say “Happy New Year” across languages and cultures worldwide!
- “Bonne Année” – French
- “Feliz Año Nuevo” – Spanish
- “Frohes Neues Jahr” – German
- “Szczęśliwego Nowego Roku” – Polish
- “Akemashite Omedetou Gozaimasu” – Japanese
- “Xin Nian Kuai Le” – Chinese
- “Saehae Bok Mani Badeuseyo” – Korean
- “Bliain Nua Faoi Mhaise Duit” – Irish
- “S Novym Godom” – Russian
- “Selamat Tahun Baru” – Indonesian
- “Sretna Nova Godina” – Croatian
- “Shana Tova” – Hebrew
- “Blwyddyn Newydd Dda” – Welsh
- “Gelukkig Nieuwjaar” – Dutch
- “Aide Shoma Mobarak” – Farsi (Persian)
- “Godt Nytt År” – Norwegian
- “Prosit Neujahr” – Austrian German
- “Sana Saida” – Arabic (Moroccan)
- “Felice Anno Nuovo” – Italian
- “Athbhliain faoi Mhaise Duit” – Irish Gaelic
- “Yeni Yılınız Kutlu Olsun” – Turkish
- “Gelukkige Nuwe Jaar” – Afrikaans (South Africa)
- “Suosdei Chhnam Thmei” – Khmer (Cambodia)
- “Sawatdee Pi Mai” – Thai
- “Manigong Bagong Taon” – Tagalog (Philippines)
- “Kia Hari Te Tau Hou” – Māori (New Zealand)
- “Bonn Ane Bann Mezon” – Creole (Haiti)
- “Nav Varsh Ki Shubhkamnayein” – Hindi (India)
- “Chuc Mung Nam Moi” – Vietnamese
- “Laimīgu Jauno Gadu” – Latvian
- “Is-Sena t-Tajba” – Maltese
- “Shnorhavor Nor Tari” – Armenian
- “Mutlu Yıllar” – Turkish
- “La Multi Ani” – Romanian
- “Heri Za Mwaka Mpya” – Swahili (East Africa)
- “Sok Dee Pi Mai” – Lao
- “Buan Nôl” – Breton
- “Gëzuar Vitin e Ri” – Albanian
- “Shana Tova Umetuka” – Hebrew
- “Feliç Any Nou” – Catalan (Spain)
- “Sala No Mubarak” – Gujarati (India)
- “Godt Nytår” – Danish
- “Onnellista Uutta Vuotta” – Finnish
- “Vesele Nove Leto” – Slovene (Slovenia)
- “Sretna Nova Godina” – Bosnian
- “Bliadhna Mhath Ùr” – Scottish Gaelic
- “Chúc Mừng Năm Mới” – Vietnamese
- “S Novym Rokom” – Slovak
- “Bonne et Heureuse Année” – French (Quebecois)
- “Boldog Új Évet” – Hungarian
- “Sretna Nova Léta” – Czech
- “Xin Năm Moi” – Hmong
- “Navavarsha Subhakankshalu” – Telugu (India)
- “Buanathar Sutha Varusham” – Tamil (India and Sri Lanka)
- “¡Urte Berri On!” – Basque (Spain)
- “Yeni İliniz Mübarek” – Azerbaijani
- “Apreli Nor Tari” – Assyrian
- “Mutlu Yangi Yil” – Uzbek
- “Próspero Ano Novo” – Portuguese (Portugal)
- “Es guets Nöis” – Swiss German
- “Sretna Nova Godina” – Montenegrin
- “Bonne Année” – Haitian Creole
- “Hauoli Makahiki Hou” – Hawaiian
- “Bonne et Heureuse Année” – Luxembourgish
- “Shumbh Ratri Varsh” – Sanskrit
- “Qapai Naipai Yoeng Jan” – Cantonese (Hong Kong)
- “Bonn Nove Lanne” – Guadeloupe Creole
- “Felicit Nou An” – Romanian (Moldova)
- “Yenali Be’elay” – Tigrinya (Eritrea)
- “Nawa Saal Mubarak Ho” – Urdu (Pakistan)
- “Kuwa Na Mwaka Mzuri Mpya” – Swahili (East Africa)
- “Eku Odun, Eku Iyedun” – Yoruba (Nigeria)
- “Bonne Annee et Bonne Sante” – French (Benin)
- “Herema Zoma Deir Tak Ba Tak” – Papiamento (Aruba, Curacao)
- “Baga Anu Amvan Apee” – Igbo (Nigeria)
- “Xin Chào Nam Moi” – Vietnamese (International Vietnamese Communities)
- “Tung Fat Choy” – Hokkien (Taiwan, Singapore)
In Summary
As we jump into a shiny new year, there’s something truly special about knowing that people all over the world are feeling that same excitement and hope, each in their own way.
Learning to say “Happy New Year” in another language is a fun little gesture that can really brighten someone’s day and help us connect, no matter how far apart we might be!
So either you’re toasting with “Feliz Año Nuevo” or celebrating with “Bonne année,” these greetings remind us that joy and celebration are a shared experience. Why not try out a few of these phrases?
It’s a great way to surprise your friends and spread the New Year cheer far and wide! Here’s to you and your loved ones—wishing you a fantastic year ahead filled with joy, health, and success—no matter how you say it! 🎉
