French Birthday Wishes: How to Say Happy 21st Birthday Gracefully

When it comes to celebrating birthdays in French, the wording can vary based on the specific milestone. In French, you would say joyeux anniversaire! when wishing someone a happy birthday. However, for the 21st birthday, a more appropriate phrase is joyeux vingt-et-unième anniversaire.

21st Birthday in France

It is important to note that the 21st birthday is not a particularly significant milestone in France. The legal age to enter bars and consume alcohol is 16 in France, and the right to vote is gained at 18. Therefore, the 21st birthday does not hold the same cultural importance as it might in some other countries.

Aside: As far as I’m aware, the French do not celebrate the 21st birthday in the same way as many do in the UK. It lacks the cultural significance and traditions such as the “21 Today” song, key of the door, or other quirky customs. Instead, the 20th birthday is considered more significant, marking the end of teenage years. A 21-year-old likely won’t expect you to remember their exact age, just as you might not wish someone a happy 58th birthday.

Pronunciation and Appropriate Wording

To avoid any awkwardness or missteps, use a translation tool for the exact pronunciation of joyeux vingt-et-unième anniversaire. An alternative is to say “joyeux anniversaire de vingt-et-un ans,” which at least avoids the mistake of a word-for-word translation. Another way to express this in French is bonne vingt-et-unième anniversaire—however, you may want to verify its familiarity among French speakers.

It’s also worth noting that to disclose a person’s age in French, you would say they “have” so many years. For example, "Je'ai vingt-quatre et demi ans" (I have twenty-four and a half years). Similarly, when wishing joyeux anniversaire, you might say “joyeux anniversaire avec 21 ans” or "joyeux anniversaire en ayant 21 ans." This phrasing adds a more natural and respectful touch to the birthday wish.