Phrase guide

many happy returns

noun · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

noun

Meaning 1

A greeting, usually for birthdays, in reference to the passing year; Happy birthday!

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

The earliest attributable use was by Lady Newdigate in a letter written in 1789 (and published in Newdigate-Newdegate Cheverels in 1898): Many happy returns of ye day to us my Dr Love.

Across languages

Translations

12 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Finnish: paljon onnea — Many happy returns!
  • Georgian: მრავალს დაესწარი (mravals daesc̣ari) — Many happy returns!
  • Georgian: მრავალს დაესწარით (mravals daesc̣arit) — Many happy returns!
  • Greek: χρόνια πολλά (chrónia pollá) — Many happy returns!
  • Hebrew: עַד מְאָה וְעֵשְׂרִים ('ad meá v'esrím) — Many happy returns!
  • Hungarian: Isten éltessen! (sokáig) (informal; the formal variant is with éltesse) — Many happy returns!
  • Latvian: daudz baltu dieniņu — Many happy returns!
  • Manx: laa ruggyree sonney dhyt — Many happy returns!
  • Polish: sto lat — Many happy returns!
  • Romanian: mulți ani înainte — Many happy returns!
  • Russian: долгих лет жизни (dolgix let žizni) — Many happy returns!
  • Scottish Gaelic: mòran dhiubh — Many happy returns!