What French people actually sing
Most groups sing the familiar tune (same melody as “Happy Birthday”) with French words:
Joyeux anniversaire,
Joyeux anniversaire,
Joyeux anniversaire, [Prénom],
Joyeux anniversaire ! (Wikipedia)
That’s it—short, sweet, candle-ready. The song is sung when the cake arrives (often with dimmed lights), you make a wish, then blow the candles. If you do it in one go, your wish should come true (superstition, but fun). (Wikipedia)
A popular alternative verse (older-school, very French)
If you want a slightly more formal, choir-ish option, many know this verse:
Bon anniversaire, nos vĆux les plus sincĂšres,
Que ces quelques fleurs vous apportent le bonheur,
Que l’annĂ©e entiĂšre vous soit douce et lĂ©gĂšre,
Et que l’an fini, nous soyons tous rĂ©unis
Pour chanter en chĆur : “Bon anniversaire !” (Chants de France)
The celebratory add-ons (crowd pleasers)
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Hip hip hip, hourra ! (often three times). The expression is widely used in French and commonly said after the song. Its roots are generally traced to English cheer traditions. (guichetdusavoir.org)
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Car c’est un bon camarade… France’s version of For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow. Two classic couplets you can chain on:
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Car c’est un bon camarade… Et nul ne peut le nier (x3)
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Car c’est un bon camarade… Buvons Ă sa santĂ© (x3). (French Moments)
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(If you’re in QuĂ©bec one day, you’ll often hear Bonne fĂȘte ! instead of Joyeux anniversaire, but in France Bonne fĂȘte usually means your name-day—that’s another celebration.) (Maudits Français)
Quick etiquette & tiny culture shocks
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Who brings treats? In many French workplaces/classes, the birthday person brings something (viennoiseries, cake, chocolates). Not universal, but common enough that no one will blink. (Helloworkplace)
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Candles & wish: Cake arrives, song, wish, blow, first slice often by the birthday person. (Wikipedia)
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The bises: Number of cheek-kisses depends on region (often 2; sometimes 3 in parts of the South). It’s not your age—please don’t attempt 53. (Français de nos rĂ©gions)
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Spankings? Non. That’s not a French custom. We keep our dignity—and our pastries.
Lead-the-song cheat sheet
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Lights lower, cake in.
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Start pitch comfy (no need for Pavarotti).
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Third line = say the name (Joyeux anniversaire, Thomas).
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Big finish + “Hip hip hip, hourra !”
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Optional: one round of “Car c’est un bon camarade” and a toast: Ă ta santĂ© ! (French Moments)
Pronunciation helper (friendly, not IPA)
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Joyeux anniversaire → “zhwah-YEU zah-nee-ver-SERR”
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Buvons Ă sa santĂ© → “boo-VON ah sah son-TAY”
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Hip hip hip, hourra → “eep eep eep, oo-RAH”
Mini-lesson by level
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A1: Memorize the four lines of Joyeux anniversaire. Practice saying your name in line 3.
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A2: Add the “Bon anniversaire, nos vĆux…” verse. Learn Ă ta/votre santĂ© ! for the toast. (Chants de France)
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B1: Lead the song and cue Hip hip hip, hourra ! Then propose: On enchaĂźne avec “Car c’est un bon camarade” ? (French Moments)
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B2: Do a short birthday toast (30–45 sec) using subjonctif de souhait: Que cette annĂ©e te soit douce et lĂ©gĂšre. (Chants de France)
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C1+: Improvise a witty quatrain about the person, slipping in a local reference (Cours Mirabeau, calissons, mistral).
Bonus: print-me lyrics card
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Joyeux anniversaire (4 lines) +
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Bon anniversaire (nos vĆux…) (stanza) +
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Car c’est un bon camarade (2 couplets).
Keep it in your phone, and voilĂ : you’re crowned MaĂźtre·sse des Bougies at the next dinner.
Sources & extras
On the French “Happy Birthday” lyrics/tune & cake rituals (France): (Wikipedia)
Alternate “Bon anniversaire” verse: (Chants de France)
“Car c’est un bon camarade” background & lyrics: (French Moments)
“Hip hip hip, hourra” usage/origins (overview): (guichetdusavoir.org)
QuĂ©bec “Bonne fĂȘte” vs France name-day “fĂȘte”: (Maudits Français)
Bises by region (not your age!): (Le Monde.fr)
Your turn: What do you sing where you’re from? Drop your favorite add-on line (or a mini-toast) below—bonus points if it rhymes with calisson. đ
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