Do you love your birthday? I sure do! It’s like a little holiday just for you. Your birthday is a great time to celebrate (mark, honor) you. I know a lot of people with summer birthdays, so I thought it was time to talk about birthday English.

Here are some phrases you can use to talk about a birthday. Whether (If, in the case that) it’s your birthday or someone else’s birthday, these English phrases will help you celebrate in style and confidence. So read on for some birthday English phrases!

To Blow Out the Candles

It’s customary (traditional) to put candles on a birthday cake. Many people put one candle per year the person has been alive on the birthday cake. So if you’re turning 30, there will be 30 candles on the cake. Then the person whose birthday it is blows out (breathe out air) the candles.

Tradition says, if you make a wish when you blow out the candles, it will come true. Why not start thinking of what you’ll wish for now?

For example:

Let’s bring the birthday cake out so Steve can blow out the candles!

To Sing “Happy Birthday”

Before someone blows out the candles on their cake, the guests at a birthday party will sing “Happy Birthday” to them. Some people like being sung to and some don’t, but it’s still a fun tradition.

Some families sing different versions of “Happy Birthday,” or sing a different song entirely. What does your family sing?

For example:

Hurry up! We’re about to sing “Happy Birthday!”

To Give Gifts

What do you want for your birthday? Many people like giving gifts to the person whose birthday it is. It’s a nice way to show them you care.

Maybe you’ll get someone a big, fancy (expensive, very luxurious) gift. Or maybe you’ll get them something small. No matter what you get the birthday boy or girl, we’re sure it’ll be perfect for them.

For example:

What are you giving Lucy for her birthday?
Do you know what gift to give Hank for his birthday on Saturday?

To Throw a Party

It can be a lot of fun to throw a party for your birthday. Or to have one thrown for you!

The phrase to throw a party just means to have or to host a party. Have you ever thrown a party for someone? What was the best birthday party you’ve ever been to?

For example:

Do you want to throw a surprise party for Karen for her birthday?
I’m throwing a party for my birthday on Saturday. Do you want to come?

What are some of your favorite birthday memories? Do you know of any birthday English phrases that didn’t make our list? Share your stories with us in the comments below!

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Check out these other popular blogs: TV English Vocabulary, Banking English Vocabulary, English Comma: Basic Rules, or these Commonly Confused Words used in English!

Erin Duffin lives in Hamburg, is an English teacher, blogger, yoga instructor, and loves celebrating her birthday. What do you like to do on your birthday?