happy belated birthday

Meanings

1. 1phrasefixed phrase

   A greeting said or written when you wish someone a good birthday after the day has already passed.

   Grammar: Used as a complete greeting, often written on cards or messages.

   Patterns

   • say happy belated birthday to someone
   • happy belated birthday, someone

   Happy belated birthday! I'm sorry I missed your party.

   She texted her friend, 'Happy belated birthday, hope it was great!'

   He wrote happy belated birthday on the late card.

2. 2phrasecountableinformal

   A card or message that carries this greeting.

   Grammar: Sometimes used as a noun phrase: send a happy belated birthday.

   Patterns

   • send a happy belated birthday

   I sent her a happy belated birthday by email.

   His mom posted a happy belated birthday on the family chat.

   Please pass on my happy belated birthday to your dad.

Common combinations

wish someone a happy belated birthday

I want to wish you a happy belated birthday.

send a belated birthday card

She sent a belated birthday card with a funny note.

a belated greeting

Please accept my belated greeting.

belated birthday wishes

We sent belated birthday wishes to our cousin.

belated birthday gift

The belated birthday gift arrived on Tuesday.

Synonyms and how they differ

late happy birthday

Late happy birthday is plainer and more casual, while belated adds a polite tone.

sorry I'm late

Sorry I'm late apologizes first, while happy belated birthday leads with the wish.

many happy returns

Many happy returns is a traditional wish said on or near the date, not especially late.

better late than never

Better late than never is a saying that excuses lateness, and may be added to the greeting.

Word family

belated adjective

coming later than expected

belatedly adverb

later than should have happened

birthday noun

the yearly day of a person's birth

late adjective

after the expected time

Commonly confused: happy belated birthday or belated vs. belayed?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “happy belated birthday”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

Explore more words