many happy returns

English

Etymology

The earliest attributable use was by Lady Newdigate in a letter written in 1789 (and published in Newdigate-Newdegate Cheverels in 1898): Many happy returns of ye day to us my Dr Love.

Pronunciation

• Audio (General Australian):

  (file)

Noun

many happy returns

1. (idiomatic) A greeting, usually for birthdays, in reference to the passing year; Happy birthday!

Translations

Many happy returns!

• Finnish: paljon onnea
• Greek: χρόνια πολλά (el) m pl (chrónia pollá)
• Hebrew: עַד מְאָה וְעֵשְׂרִים (he) ('ad meá v'esrím)
• Hungarian: Isten éltessen (sokáig)! (informal; the formal variant is with éltesse)
• Latvian: daudz baltu dieniņu
• Manx: laa ruggyree sonney dhyt
• Polish: sto lat
• Romanian: mulți ani înainte
• Russian: долгих лет жизни (dolgix let žizni)