Christmas around the world

    Merry Christmas in Different Languages

    Christmas sounds a little different everywhere. Explore how people say “Merry Christmas” in languages from around the world, including native spellings and pronunciation help where useful.

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    Christmas greetings by language

    38 languages in the directory

    • English

      United Kingdom, United States

      Merry Christmas

    • Portuguese

      Portugal, Brazil

      Feliz Natal

      Pronunciation: feh-LEEZ nah-TAHL

    • Spanish

      Feliz Navidad

      Pronunciation: feh-LEES nah-bee-DAHD

    • French

      Joyeux Noël

      Pronunciation: zhwah-YUH no-EL

    • Italian

      Buon Natale

      Pronunciation: bwon nah-TAH-leh

    • German

      Frohe Weihnachten

      Pronunciation: FROH-uh VY-nakh-ten

    • Dutch

      Vrolijk Kerstfeest

      Pronunciation: VROH-lyk KAIRST-fayst

    • Swedish

      God Jul

      Pronunciation: good YOOL

    • Norwegian

      God Jul

      Pronunciation: goo YOOL

    • Danish

      Glædelig Jul

      Pronunciation: GLEH-the-li YOOL

    • Finnish

      Hyvää joulua

      Pronunciation: HUU-vah YOH-loo-ah

    • Icelandic

      Gleðileg jól

      Pronunciation: GLETH-i-leg YOHL

    • Polish

      Wesołych Świąt

      Pronunciation: veh-SOH-wih SHFYONT

    • Czech

      Veselé Vánoce

      Pronunciation: VEH-seh-leh VAH-no-tseh

    • Hungarian

      Boldog Karácsonyt

      Pronunciation: BOL-dog KAH-rah-chont

    • Romanian

      Crăciun Fericit

      Pronunciation: kruh-CHOON feh-ree-CHEET

    • Croatian

      Sretan Božić

      Pronunciation: SREH-tahn BOH-zheech

    • Turkish

      Mutlu Noeller

      Pronunciation: MOOT-loo no-el-LER

    • Irish

      Ireland

      Nollaig Shona Duit

      Pronunciation: NUL-ig HUN-uh ditch

    • Welsh

      Nadolig Llawen

      Pronunciation: na-DOH-lig LHOW-en

    • Filipino

      Philippines

      Maligayang Pasko

      Pronunciation: mah-lee-GAH-yang PAS-ko

    • Indonesian

      Selamat Natal

      Pronunciation: seh-LAH-mat NAH-tal

    • Swahili

      East Africa

      Krismasi Njema

      Pronunciation: kris-MAH-see n-JEH-mah

    • Afrikaans

      South Africa

      Geseënde Kersfees

      Pronunciation: heh-SEH-un-deh KERS-fays

    • Hawaiian

      Mele Kalikimaka

      Pronunciation: MEH-leh kah-lee-kee-MAH-kah

    • Vietnamese

      Chúc Mừng Giáng Sinh

      Pronunciation: chook mung yang sing

    • Russian

      С Рождеством

      S Rozhdestvom

      Pronunciation: s rozh-dyest-VOM

    • Ukrainian

      Веселого Різдва

      Veseloho Rizdva

      Pronunciation: veh-SEH-loh-ho reez-DVAH

    • Greek

      Καλά Χριστούγεννα

      Kalá Christoúgenna

      Pronunciation: kah-LAH khree-STOO-yeh-nah

    • Arabic

      عيد ميلاد مجيد

      Eid Milad Majid

      Pronunciation: eed mee-LAAD ma-JEED

    • Hebrew

      חג מולד שמח

      Chag Molad Sameach

      Pronunciation: khag mo-LAD sa-MEH-akh

    • Japanese

      メリークリスマス

      Merī Kurisumasu

      Pronunciation: meh-REE koo-ree-soo-MAH-soo

    • Korean

      메리 크리스마스

      Meri Keuriseumaseu

      Pronunciation: meh-ree keu-ree-seu-mah-seu

    • Mandarin Chinese

      China

      圣诞节快乐

      Shèngdàn jié kuàilè

      Pronunciation: shung-DAN jyeh KWY-luh

    • Cantonese

      Hong Kong

      聖誕快樂

      Sing daan faai lok

      Pronunciation: sing daan fai lok

    • Thai

      สุขสันต์วันคริสต์มาส

      Suk san wan Christmas

      Pronunciation: sook-SAN wan KRIT-mas

    • Hindi

      क्रिसमस की शुभकामनाएं

      Krismas ki shubhkamnaayein

      Pronunciation: KRIS-mas kee shoobh-KAAM-na-ayen

    • Amharic

      Ethiopia

      መልካም ገና

      Melkam Gena

      Pronunciation: MEL-kam GEH-nah

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    How do you say Merry Christmas in different languages?

    Christmas greetings change with the language, the writing system and sometimes the region. Many European languages combine a word for happy or blessed with the local name for Christmas — Feliz Natal, Buon Natale, Joyeux Noël — while the Nordic countries wish each other a good Yule with God Jul.

    Languages written in another script, such as Greek, Arabic, Hebrew, Japanese, Korean and Thai, are shown here in their native spelling with a Latin transliteration beneath, so you can read the phrase aloud even if the script is unfamiliar.

    Some languages have more than one common festive greeting, and in several countries a New Year wish is used alongside the Christmas one. The version listed here is the greeting most widely understood.

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    Good to know

    Christmas greetings FAQ

    How do you say Merry Christmas in different languages?
    Every language has its own festive greeting: Feliz Natal in Portuguese, Joyeux Noël in French, Frohe Weihnachten in German, Καλά Χριστούγεννα in Greek. The directory on this page lists each greeting with its native spelling and, where it helps, a simple pronunciation guide.
    What is the most common way to say Merry Christmas around the world?
    There is no single version. Many European languages build the greeting from a word meaning happy or blessed plus the local name for Christmas, while Japanese and Korean borrow the English phrase directly as Merī Kurisumasu and Meri Keuriseumaseu.
    How do I pronounce Merry Christmas in another language?
    Each entry includes an English-friendly pronunciation guide written in syllables, with the stressed syllable in capitals — for example feh-LEEZ nah-TAHL for the Portuguese Feliz Natal. Read it slowly, syllable by syllable.
    Can I copy or share these Christmas greetings?
    Yes. Every greeting has a copy button that puts the phrase on your clipboard, and the featured random greeting can be shared straight to messages or social apps.