Fazer aniversário.

You use fazer aniversário when you want to say that someone's birthday is happening. It can refer to your own birthday or someone else's. It's super versatile! You can use it to announce your own birthday is coming up. Or you can ask when someone else faz aniversário. It fits perfectly in casual chats and even slightly more formal announcements. Just remember, it's about the *event* of having a birthday. It’s like saying 'it's my birthday time!' or 'he’s having his birthday'. Don't overthink it; it's quite natural.

• My friend called to say, 'Hey, I'm fazendo aniversário next week!'
• We're planning a surprise party for her because she faz aniversário on Friday.
• My grandma loves to cook; she always makes a big meal when she faz aniversário.
• He posted on Instagram: 'Finally fiz aniversário! Feeling blessed!'
• The office surprised the boss: 'Feliz aniversário, chefe! Hope you faça aniversário with joy!'

Use fazer aniversário when discussing or announcing a birthday. This applies to your own birthday or someone else's. You can use it when you want to mention the date of a birthday. It's perfect for planning celebrations or parties. Use it when talking about age milestones. It's great for casual conversations with friends and family. You can also use it in slightly more formal settings, like a company announcement. It works for both upcoming birthdays and past ones. It's the standard way to talk about this event.

Avoid using fazer aniversário for other types of celebrations. For instance, don't say 'Eu vou fazer aniversário de casamento' (I'm going to celebrate my wedding anniversary). For anniversaries, you'd use comemorar (to celebrate) or celebrar. Don't use it for holidays like Christmas or New Year's. It's strictly for birthdays. Also, don't use it to describe the *act* of giving a gift. That's dar presente. It's specifically about the birthday person and their day. Using it for other events sounds odd, like saying 'I'm making Christmas!' – it just doesn't compute.

Learners often get confused with similar-sounding phrases or direct translations. The biggest trap is trying to directly translate 'to have a birthday' using ter.

This is a classic! 'Ter' means 'to have', but in Portuguese, you 'make' or 'do' your birthday. It’s like saying 'I have a party' versus 'I'm having a party' – subtle difference, big impact. Another mistake is using estar (to be) incorrectly.

This sounds like the person *is* a birthday, which is just strange! Stick to fazer.

• Comemorar aniversário: This means 'to celebrate birthday' and is very similar. It emphasizes the *act* of celebrating more than just the day itself. You might say vou comemorar meu aniversário (I will celebrate my birthday).
• Ter um aniversário: While generally avoided for the *event*, you might hear ter um bom aniversário (have a good birthday) as a wish. But for the core meaning of *having* the birthday, fazer is king.
• Aniversário: Just saying the word 'birthday' itself. 'Meu aniversário é amanhã!' (My birthday is tomorrow!). This is the noun form.

• Fazer anos: This is a very common synonym, especially in Portugal. It literally means 'to make years'. So, Eu faço anos is the same as Eu faço aniversário. It’s slightly more informal but widely used.
• Completar anos/aniversário: Means 'to complete years/birthday'. Ele completou 30 anos (He turned 30). This focuses on reaching a specific age.
• É meu aniversário: 'It's my birthday'. A direct statement.

• Q: Is fazer aniversário formal or informal?

A: It's quite neutral! You can use it in most situations, from texting friends to slightly more formal announcements. It's not slang, but it's not stiff either. Think of it as your reliable, everyday way to talk about birthdays.

• Q: Can I use ter aniversário?

A: Generally, no. While you might hear wishes like 'Tenha um feliz aniversário' (Have a happy birthday), saying 'Eu tenho aniversário' sounds unnatural for the event itself. Stick to fazer!

• Q: What’s the difference between fazer aniversário and comemorar aniversário?

A: Fazer aniversário is about the day itself happening – the state of being your birthday. Comemorar aniversário focuses specifically on the *actions* of celebrating it, like having a party or gathering. You faz your birthday, and then you comemora it.