How to say “Merry Christmas” in other languages

By now you’ve dug out your Christmas sweater, hung your stockings by the chimney, and are getting in the holiday mood humming Christmas carols all day long, but have you learned anything new about Christmas this year? Most of us just go through the same rituals from one year to the next. That’s how traditions work. But what better way to celebrate one of the world’s most international holidays than to learn how to say “Merry Christmas” in another language? You can use your new skills to make your Christmas Eve toast a touch more exotic, or to wish your foreign friends a happy holiday in their own language. The video below showcases some of our international team members wishing you a merry Christmas in their own native languages, 15 in all, including German, French, Spanish, Chinese and Finnish. Watch more than once to get the pronunciation right!

For the more avid language student, we’ve put the written form of these same Christmas greetings below. You’ll notice the Latin roots of the English word “nativity” in all the romance languages. You can also find the roots of the English “yuletide” in the Swedish version. Whether you’re preparing paper Christmas cards or you just use SnapChat to spread the cheer, you’re sure to have an international friend or two to impress with your new language skills. So learn one greeting or fifteen, then get busy spreading the Christmas spirit with friends and family around the world.

How to say…

“Merry Christmas” in other languages

Merry Christmas in German

Frohe Weihnachten

Merry Christmas in Swedish

God Jul

Merry Christmas in Chinese

聖誕快樂

Merry Christmas in Japanese

メリークリスマス

Merry Christmas in Spanish

Feliz Navidad

Merry Christmas in Italian

Buon Natale

Merry Christmas in French

Joyeux Noël

Merry Christmas in Dutch

Vrolijk kerstfeest

Merry Christmas in Vietnamese

Giáng Sinh vui vẻ

Merry Christmas in Czech

Veselé Vánoce

Merry Christmas in Portuguese

Feliz Natal

Merry Christmas in Korean

성탄을 축하드려요

Merry Christmas in Polish

Wesołych Świąt

Merry Christmas in Russian

С рождеством!

Merry Christmas in Finnish

Hyvää joulua