Fazer aniversário

You use fazer aniversário when talking about someone's birthday. You can use it for yourself or for others. It's a very common and natural way to express the idea of having a birthday. It fits into sentences about when it is, who is celebrating, or what you're doing for it. It’s a core part of talking about personal celebrations. You'll hear it everywhere, from casual chats to more formal announcements.

• Birthday Party Invite: "A festa é para a Maria fazer aniversário de 30 anos." (The party is for Maria celebrating her 30th birthday.)
• Wishing Someone Well: "Espero que você faça aniversário muito feliz!" (I hope you have a very happy birthday!)
• Planning Ahead: "Meu filho vai fazer aniversário semana que vem." (My son is going to have his birthday next week.)
• Reflecting: "Parece que ontem eu fiz aniversário de 18 anos." (It seems like yesterday I turned 18.)

Use fazer aniversário anytime you want to talk about someone's birthday. This includes planning parties, sending wishes, or simply mentioning the event. It's perfect for everyday conversations. You can use it when you're texting friends or talking to family. It's also suitable for slightly more formal settings, like a work announcement. Basically, if it's about a birthday, this phrase fits.

Don't use fazer aniversário for other anniversaries. For example, wedding anniversaries or company anniversaries need different phrases. You wouldn't say "Eles vão fazer aniversário de casamento" (They will make wedding anniversary). That sounds super wrong! Stick to fazer aniversário only for birthdays. It's like trying to fit a square peg in a round hole – it just doesn't work.

A common mistake is using it for non-birthday anniversaries. Another is trying to translate it too literally. Forgetting the fazer part can also lead to errors. Let's look at some:

• Completar anos: This means 'to complete years' or 'to turn X years old'. It's very similar and often interchangeable. "Ele completa 30 anos hoje." (He turns 30 today.)
• Ter aniversário: Less common, but sometimes used, meaning 'to have a birthday'. "Eu tenho aniversário em julho." (I have a birthday in July.)
• Ser aniversário: Used for the day itself. "Hoje é aniversário dela." (Today is her birthday.)

Sometimes you'll add the age. For example, fazer 18 anos (to turn 18 years old). You might also hear fazer aniversário de X anos (to celebrate X years). It's common to say "Vou fazer 30 anos" (I'm going to turn 30). It's a very flexible phrase. You can tweak it to add specific details about the age. It’s like adding sprinkles to your cake!

• Q: Does fazer aniversário always mean birthday?

A: Yes, almost always! It's specifically for celebrating the anniversary of your birth. Other anniversaries need different words.

• Q: Can I say Eu aniversário?

A: No, that's incorrect! You need the verb fazer. So, it's always Eu faço aniversário.

• Q: What's the difference between fazer aniversário and completar anos?

A: They are very similar! Fazer aniversário focuses on the act of celebrating the day. Completar anos emphasizes reaching a specific age. Both are common and often used interchangeably.