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.
FAQ — Happy New Year in Many Languages
How do you say Happy New Year in many languages?
Each language has its own phrase, often reflecting cultural values like happiness, health, or blessings.
Is Happy New Year said the same way everywhere?
No. Some languages focus on happiness, others on blessings, health, or longevity.
Which language has the longest Happy New Year phrase?
Japanese and Polish are among the longest due to formality and grammar.
Is it okay to say Happy New Year in English everywhere?
Yes, but using the local language is always appreciated.
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.