How to Say Happy Birthday in Georgian: Translation Guide

Celebrating in the Caucasus: How to Say Happy Birthday in Georgian

Every culture has its own special way of marking the passage of time and celebrating another year of life. If you are looking to wish someone a happy birthday in Georgia—the beautiful country nestled at the intersection of Eastern Europe and Western Asia—you are stepping into a rich linguistic and cultural tradition known for warmth, poetry, and grand celebrations.

The Phrase: How to Say Happy Birthday

In Georgian, the standard and most common way to say “Happy Birthday” is:

گیორგობას გილოცავ (Wait, let’s look at the correct phrase!)
დაბადების დღეს გილოცავ (Dabadebis dghes gilocav)

Let’s break down the pronunciation and meaning:

• დაბადების (Dabadebis): Meaning “of birth” or “birth.”
• დღეს (Dghes): Meaning “day.” Together, dabadebis dghes translates to “birthday.”
• გილოცავ (Gilocav): Meaning “I congratulate you” or “I celebrate with you.”

When put together, დაბადების დღეს გილოცავ (Dabadebis dghes gilocav) is the informal or standard way to wish a friend, family member, or peer a happy birthday.

If you are speaking to an elder, someone you respect deeply, or in a formal setting, you use the plural/polite form:

• დაბადების დღეს გილოცავთ (Dabadebis dghes gilocavt)

Raising a Glass: The Georgian Birthday Toast (Tamada)

Birthdays in Georgia are rarely quiet affairs. They are usually celebrated around a bountiful table (supra) filled with delicious dishes like khachapuri (cheese bread) and khinkali (dumplings), accompanied by endless rounds of wine.