---
title: Happy Birthday emails
description: What do you say when you wish a colleague a happy birthday? Learn how to write a suitable email here.
---

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 January 21, 2020

# Happy Birthday emails

 By  [Jonny West](https://hs.targettraining.eu/training-business/author/jonny-west)  ·   2 minute read

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## What do you say when you wish a colleague a happy birthday?

In the modern business world, we have contact with a lot of people on a day-to-day basis. We all have one thing in common: birthdays! Wishing a colleague a happy birthday is a great opportunity to strengthen your relationship with them. Regardless of the company or the culture, it is nice to be wished a happy birthday.

\[av\_two\_third first av\_uid='av-cfaipe'\]

I am sure you have had that sinking feeling when you realize that you have missed someone’s birthday. As a manager, I feel that it is important to wish my colleagues (this includes people that report to me and people I report to) a happy birthday. If I didn’t do it, I would be concerned that people would be offended and my relationships would suffer.

It is easy to wish your friends a happy birthday but how do you do it professionally to colleagues?

### **We don’t tend to say “congratulations” to people on their birthdays. The only time we might say it is when someone turns 18 or 100!**

\[/av\_two\_third\]

\[av\_one\_third av\_uid='av-a8cfw2'\] ***[![writing emails that people read](https://hs.targettraining.eu/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/writing-emails-that-people-read-188x300.png?width=188&height=300&name=writing-emails-that-people-read-188x300.png)](https://hs.targettraining.eu/ebook/sugar)***

## Some example emails you could use:

\[av\_one\_half first av\_uid='av-uo8fm'\]

\[av\_promobox button='no' label='Click me' link='manually,http://' link\_target='' color='theme-color' custom\_bg='#444444' custom\_font='#ffffff' size='large' icon\_select='no' icon='ue800' font='entypo-fontello' av\_uid='av-7s6cwy'\]

**Formal**

Dear Mr. Smith,

I am writing to wish you a happy birthday. I hope that you enjoy the day.

Many happy returns!

Kind regards,

Jonny  
 \[/av\_promobox\]

\[/av\_one\_half\]

\[av\_one\_half av\_uid='av-5krryq'\]

\[av\_promobox button='no' label='Click me' link='manually,http://' link\_target='' color='theme-color' custom\_bg='#444444' custom\_font='#ffffff' size='large' icon\_select='no' icon='ue800' font='entypo-fontello' av\_uid='av-4kuwr6'\]

**Informal**

Hi Phil,

I just wanted to drop you a quick line to wish you a very happy birthday!

I hope you have a great day.

Take care,

Jonny  
 \[/av\_promobox\]

\[/av\_one\_half\]

\[av\_promobox button='no' label='Click me' link='manually,http://' link\_target='' color='theme-color' custom\_bg='#444444' custom\_font='#ffffff' size='large' icon\_select='no' icon='ue800' font='entypo-fontello' av\_uid='av-2eemde'\]

**Belated (nachträglich)**

Hi Phil,

I just wanted to wish you a happy belated birthday. I am sorry I didn’t contact you yesterday, I was on a business trip in Poland and didn’t have internet access or network on my phone.

Did you have a good day?

Let’s catch up soon,

Best wishes,

Jonny

\[/av\_promobox\]

 

## Happy birthday to you

It makes people feel valued if you remember an important day in their lives. A simple wish as happy birthday strengthens relationships and can avoid potential offence. I have found it useful to keep a record of people’s birthdays on my Outlook calendar. That way, I don’t have to worry about forgetting.

## Want to improve your emailing skills?

Our blog has a large number of posts that could be of interest to you. [Click to view more posts on emailing.](https://hs.targettraining.eu/?tag=emailing)

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