TL;DR
- People say Happy New Year differently around the world
- Some languages change the phrase based on formality
- Learning greetings is one of the fastest ways to connect across cultures
- Below are 20 languages, with flags, native phrases, and pronunciation
“Happy New Year” is a universal greeting, but every language expresses it in its own way — reflecting culture, sound, and tradition.
Here are 20 popular ways to say Happy New Year in many languages, written the way people actually use them.
🌍 Happy New Year in 20 Languages
🇸🇦 Arabic
سنة جديدة سعيدة
Sanah jadīdah saʿīdah
Happy New Year in Arabic used across many Arabic-speaking countries in both formal and casual contexts.
🇨🇳 Chinese (Mandarin)
新年快乐
Xīnnián kuàilè
Happy New Year in Chinese (Mandarin) commonly used during the Lunar New Year and in modern celebrations.
🇨🇿 Czech
Šťastný nový rok
Shtyas-nee noh-vee rok
Happy New Year in Czech is a standard and friendly New Year greeting.
🇩🇰 Danish
Godt nytår
Goht noot-or
Happy New Year in Danish is short, casual, and widely used in Denmark.
🇳🇱 Dutch
Gelukkig nieuwjaar
Geh-luk-ikh nyeu-yar
Happy New Year in Dutch used in the Netherlands and parts of Belgium.
🇬🇧 English
Happy New Year
Happy New Year in English used worldwide, both formally and informally.
🇫🇮 Finnish
Hyvää uutta vuotta
Hü-vah oo-tah voo-oh-tah
Happy New Year in Finnish is just like other Finnish greetings which often sound long but are very warm.
🇫🇷 French
Bonne année
Bohn ah-nay
Happy New Year in French is often said alone or with “Bonne santé” (good health).
🇩🇪 German
Frohes neues Jahr
Froh-es noy-es yar
Happy New Year in German, you may also hear “Prosit Neujahr.”
🇮🇹 Italian
Buon anno
Bwon ahn-no
Happy New Year in Italian is Short, friendly, and commonly used.
🇯🇵 Japanese
明けましておめでとうございます
Akemashite omedetō gozaimasu
Formal version for Happy New Year in Japanese may say あけおめ casually among friends.
🇰🇷 Korean
새해 복 많이 받으세요
Saehae bok mani badeuseyo
Happy New Year in Korean literally means “Receive lots of New Year’s blessings.”
🇳🇴 Norwegian
Godt nyttår
Goht new-tor
Happy New Year in Norwegian is very similar to Danish and Swedish.
🇵🇱 Polish
Szczęśliwego Nowego Roku
Shchen-shee-veh-goh noh-veh-go roo-koo
Formal and widely used.
🇷🇺 Russian
С Новым годом
S novym godom
Happy New Year in Russian often followed by wishes for health and success.
🇵🇹 Portuguese (Brazil)
Feliz Ano Novo
Feh-leez ah-noh noh-voh
Happy New Year in Russian is also used in Brazil and Portugal.
🇷🇴 Romanian
La mulți ani
Lah moolts ahn
Happy New Year in Romanian literally means “To many years.”
🇪🇸 Spanish
Feliz Año Nuevo
Feh-lees ah-nyoh noo-eh-voh
Happy New Year in Spanish is used across Spain and Latin America.
🇸🇪 Swedish
Gott nytt år
Got newt or
Happy New Year in Swedish is short and casual.
🇹🇷 Turkish
Mutlu yıllar
Moot-loo yul-lar
Happy New Year in Turkish is also used for birthdays and anniversaries.
Why you should learn “Happy New Year” in Many Languages?
Learning greetings helps you:
- Show respect for other cultures
- Sound more natural when traveling
- Build instant human connection
- Start language learning with confidence
It’s one of the easiest ways to go global 🌍
When Do People Say “Happy New Year”?
- On December 31 at midnight
- During New Year’s Day
- Around Lunar New Year in many Asian cultures
Some languages use the greeting for several days or even weeks.
Final Thoughts
Saying Happy New Year in many languages is a small effort with a big cultural impact.
Whether you’re traveling, learning languages, or just curious, these phrases help you connect with people — one greeting at a time 🎉
Want more multilingual greetings and language tips? Explore Avatalks and learn languages the human way.