How to wish people a Happy New Year around the world in different languages
It’s almost time to link arms and break into a rousing rendition of Auld Lang Syne for New Year.
On New Year’s Eve we all sing the traditional Scottish folk song, so dipping in and out of other languages shouldn’t be anything new.
In that spirit, here’s how you can wish people a Happy New Year in a myriad of other languages, perfect whether you’re out celebrating in London with a group of friends from the world over or you’ve got friends and family in different time zones.
How to say Happy New Year in Spanish
In Spanish, the literal translation for Happy New Year is Feliz Año Nuevo
If you want to give it a bit more pep, you can say Feliz año nuevo, amigo (Happy New Year, friend) or Brindemos al Año Nuevo (Cheers to the New Year).
How to say Happy New Year in German
Happy New Year can be wished in German by saying either ‘Frohes Neues Jahr’ or ‘Gutes Neues Jahr’.
A colloquial greeting amongst some Germans is ‘Guten Rutsch’, which translates to ‘good slide.’
Why? No one really knows. Although most sites agree it comes from an old Yiddish phrase, a git Rosch, which wishes ‘a good beginning.’
How to say Happy New Year in French
Emily in Paris on the brain after the new season? Say bonjour to 2023 by wishing friends and family a ‘Bonne année.’
A year round greeting that works if you think you’ve missed the window to properly say Happy New Year is ‘Meilleurs Voeux’, which is an evergreen way of saying ‘best wishes.’
Happy New Year in Maori, the indigenous language of New Zealand
The Maori people were the indigenous population of New Zealand and te reo – the language – is still commonly spoken by a portion of the population.
Since they’re one of the first places in the world to see in the New Year, you might want to know how to wish a Happy New Year in the dialect – Kia hari te tau hou.
How to say Happy New Year in Italian
Still not over White Lotus? Feel la dolce vita and see in 2023 with a hearty ‘Buon Anno’ or ‘Felice anno nuovo!’
Happy New Year in 10 other languages, from Afrikaans to Mandarin
- Afrikaans – Gelukkige Nuwejaar (pronounced: gha-likkikga-neeva-yaarr)
- Gaelic – Bliadhna mhath ur (pronounced: Bleenah vahth oohr)
- Mandarin – 新年快乐 (pronounced: xīn nián kuài lè)
- Portuguese – Feliz Ano Novo
- Dutch – Fijne oudejaarsavond, Fine New Year’s Eve (pronounced: fei-nee ow-de-yaarr-sa-vont) or Gelukkig Nieuwjaar, Happy New Year (pronounced: ghu-lukkikgh-neew-yaarr)
- Greek – Καλή χρονιά (pronounced: kali chronya)
- Polish – Szczęśliwego Nowego Roku (pronounced: shch-eng-shlee-vego novego roku)
- Welsh – blwyddyn newydd dda (pronounced: BLOOdhin NEHwidh dha)
- Japanese – あけましておめでとうございます (pronounced: akemashite omedeto gozaimasu)
- Farsi – سال نو مبارک (pronounced: sale nou mobarak).
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