The most common way to say happy birthday in Yoruba is Ẹ kú ọjọ́ ìbí, literally “congratulations on your birthday”. Birthdays are celebrated warmly in Yoruba families, and the greeting is usually followed by a prayer for the year ahead. This guide gives you the phrases, the typical replies, and a few short messages you can copy for a card or a text.
Core Birthday Phrases
| Yoruba | English |
|---|---|
| Ẹ kú ọjọ́ ìbí | Happy birthday (respectful or plural) |
| Ó kú ọjọ́ ìbí | Happy birthday (to one person, informal) |
| Ọjọ́ ìbí | Birthday |
| Ọdún á yẹ ọ́ | Many happy returns (may the year suit you) |
| Ẹ ṣé | Thank you (reply) |
How to Reply When Someone Greets You
If someone wishes you a happy birthday, answer with Ẹ ṣé (thank you), or Ọdún á yẹ wá (may the year suit us all) to include them in the blessing. Elders are often greeted first and with the respectful Ẹ form; see our guide to greeting elders.
Short Birthday Messages
- Ẹ kú ọjọ́ ìbí. Ọdún á yẹ yín. Happy birthday. May the year be good to you.
- Kí Ọlọ́run jẹ́ kí o pẹ́ láyé. May God let you live long.
- Mo fẹ́ràn rẹ púpọ̀. I like you very much.
Birthdays and Yoruba Naming Tradition
A Yoruba child’s first celebration is the naming ceremony, held on the eighth day after birth, and many families still mark a child’s birthday with prayers and a shared meal. To understand the first big celebration in a Yoruba life, read about the Yoruba naming ceremony, or explore the meaning behind girls’ names and boys’ names.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you say happy birthday in Yoruba?
Say Ẹ kú ọjọ́ ìbí. Add Ọdún á yẹ ọ́ to wish the person a good year.
What does Ẹ kú mean?
It is a polite greeting formula meaning roughly “well done” or “congratulations”, used before the occasion or activity, such as a birthday or a hard day’s work.
Is there a difference between ẹ and o?
Yes. Ẹ is the respectful or plural “you”, while o or ó addresses one peer.
Keep learning with I love you, happy birthday and good night in Yoruba, our greetings guide and the full Learn Yoruba hub.
