Meaning
To mark the anniversary of one's birth with festivities.
Cultural Background
The 'Quinceañera' is the most important birthday for girls, symbolizing the transition to womanhood. It involves a mass, a waltz, and a massive party. It is common to pull the ears of the birthday person (tirones de orejas)—one pull for each year they have lived. The 'Asado' (barbecue) is the quintessential way to celebrate a birthday among friends and family. The song 'Ay, qué noche tan preciosa' is sung instead of or in addition to 'Happy Birthday'. It is much longer and more melodic.
Shorten it!
In 90% of casual conversations, just say 'el cumple'. It sounds much more natural.
The 'S' is mandatory
Never say 'cumpleaño'. Even if it's just one birthday, the word is always plural in form.
Meaning
To mark the anniversary of one's birth with festivities.
Shorten it!
In 90% of casual conversations, just say 'el cumple'. It sounds much more natural.
The 'S' is mandatory
Never say 'cumpleaño'. Even if it's just one birthday, the word is always plural in form.
Who pays?
In Spain, if you invite people to celebrate your birthday at a bar, be prepared to pay the bill!
Test Yourself
Fill in the blank with the correct form of 'celebrar'.
El año que viene, mis padres ________ sus bodas de oro y el cumpleaños de mi padre el mismo día.
The subject is 'mis padres' (they) and the context is 'el año que viene' (future).
Which sentence is the most natural for a casual invitation?
Choose the best option:
This uses the informal 'cumple' and the natural verb 'celebrar'.
Complete the dialogue.
A: ¿Cómo vas a ________ tu cumpleaños? B: No sé, quizás solo una cena tranquila.
The context of 'how' (how are you going to mark the occasion) requires 'celebrar'.
Match the phrase to the context.
Match 'Tirar la casa por la ventana' with its birthday context.
This idiom means to spend a lot of money on a celebration.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Birthday Essentials
Food
- • Pastel
- • Tarta
- • Bocadillos
People
- • Cumpleañero
- • Invitados
- • Familia
Practice Bank
4 exercisesEl año que viene, mis padres ________ sus bodas de oro y el cumpleaños de mi padre el mismo día.
The subject is 'mis padres' (they) and the context is 'el año que viene' (future).
Choose the best option:
This uses the informal 'cumple' and the natural verb 'celebrar'.
A: ¿Cómo vas a ________ tu cumpleaños? B: No sé, quizás solo una cena tranquila.
The context of 'how' (how are you going to mark the occasion) requires 'celebrar'.
Match 'Tirar la casa por la ventana' with its birthday context.
This idiom means to spend a lot of money on a celebration.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
4 questionsSon sinónimos. 'Celebrar' es más común en España y contextos formales; 'festejar' es muy popular en Latinoamérica.
Es mejor decir 'hacer una fiesta de cumpleaños'. 'Hacer un cumpleaños' suena un poco incompleto.
Se dice '¡Feliz cumpleaños!' o simplemente '¡Felicidades!'.
Es siempre masculino: 'el cumpleaños'.
Related Phrases
Cumplir años
similarTo turn [age] years old.
Dar una fiesta
similarTo throw a party.
Felicitar a alguien
builds onTo congratulate someone.
Tirar la casa por la ventana
specialized formTo spend a lot of money on a celebration.
