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An English-German glossary designed to help you find the right phrase for a particular occasion

Also see Lesson 1 of German for Beginners (Greetings and Courtesies) and German Toasts: Trinksprüche.

Actually, you'll find more than 10 ways to express good wishes in German in this glossary. We've selected 10 common topics for good wishes - as well as sympathy - in German. After you've found what you want to say, send a free German e-card!

Birthday - Geburtstag

Best wishes... Alles Gute...
Congratulations... Herzlichen Glückwunsch...
Congratulations... Ich gratuliere...

• on your birthday! zum Geburtstag!
• Happy Birthday! Alles Gute zum Geburtstag!
• Happy Birthday (to you)! - See traditional song below: Hoch soll er/sie leben!
• Many happy returns of the day! Viel Glück zum Geburtstag!

German Happy Birthday Song (traditional)

Hoch soll er leben!/Hoch soll sie leben!

Hoch soll sie leben! (Long may she live!)
Hoch soll sie leben!
Dreimal hoch! (Three cheers!)

Note: This brief song also serves as the German equivalent of “For He's a Jolly Good Fellow.” The tune is different from that of “Happy Birthday” in English, which these days is heard much more often at German birthday parties than the "old fashioned" “Hoch soll er leben!” Also see the German birthday song "Wie schön, dass du geboren bist."

General/Allgemeines

• Best wishes! Alles Gute! Herzlichen Glückwunsch!
• A blessing in disguise. Glück im Unglück. (lit., "good luck in misfortune")
• Bon appétit! Enjoy your meal! Guten Appetit!
• Bon voyage! Have a good trip! Gute Reise!
• card of congratulation die Glückwunschkarte
• Cheers! (toast) Prost!
• Congratulations! Gratulation! Ich gratuliere! Wir gratulieren!
• fortunately, luckily zum Glück
• four-leaf clover der Glücksklee
• Good luck! Viel Glück!
• Good luck! (Break a leg!) Hals- und Beinbruch!
• lucky dog/fellow das Glückskind or der Glückspilz
• To your health! (toast) Auf deine/Ihre Gesundheit!
• You were lucky. (1) Da hast du Glück gehabt.
• You were lucky. (2) Da hast du Schwein gehabt.
• I wish you success! Viel Erfolg!

Graduation/Schulabschluss

Best wishes... Alles Gute...
Congratulations... Herzlichen Glückwunsch...
(My/Our) Congratulations... Ich gratuliere.../ Wir gratulieren...

• on graduating from high school (Germany) zum (bestandenen) Abitur!
• on graduating from high school (Austria/Switz.) zur (bestandenen) Matura!
• on graduating with a master's degree (der Magister)! zur Sponsion!
• on graduating with a doctorate (die Doktorarbeit)! zur Promotion!

Holidays/Feiertage

Merry Christmas! Frohe Weihnachten! (also see link below)
Happy New Year! Prosit Neujahr!/ Einen guten Rutsch!
Happy Easter! Frohe Ostern!
Happy Father's/Mother's Day! Alles Gute zum Vatertag/Muttertag!

MORE > German Christmas Greetings
MORE > A German Easter

Marriage & Anniversary

Congratulations... Herzlichen Glückwunsch...

• on your engagement! zur/zu deiner/zu Ihrer Verlobung!
• on your wedding! zur/zu deiner/zu Ihrer Hochzeit/Vermählung!
• on the happy event! (new baby) zum freudigen Ereignis!
• on your golden/silver wedding anniversary! zur goldenen/silbernen Hochzeit!

NEXT > Sympathy/Recovery and more

MORE > To the "Congratulations!" article