Download ArticleDownload ArticleThis article was reviewed by Seth Hall. Seth T. Hall (ICF ACC, CLC, and MNLP) is a Certified Life Coach and Founder of Transformational Solutions, a Los Angeles-based life-coaching company that helps people achieve their toughest goals, find their own voice, and think outside the box. He has been a life coach for over 10 years, specializing in personal development, relationships, career and finance, and wellness. He has helped his clients break the negative cycles in their lives and replace them with a positive, proactive mindset. Seth believes that everyone has the potential to live a fulfilling and rewarding life, and works passionately to help them reach their full potential. With a deep understanding of how our minds work and the power of positive thinking, he encourages his clients to find their unique paths in life and find success on their own terms. He is a certified master practitioner of Neuro-Linguistic Programming, a featured co-author for WikiHow, and co-author of "The Mountain Method”, “The Happy Tiger”, and “The V.I.S.I.O.N.S. Program”.
This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources.
This article has been viewed 2,161,201 times.
It's your birthday! It's great to see that your friends care about you, but what's an appropriate way to respond? In person, just say "Thank you!" If the well-wishes are sent over social media or physical mail, the etiquette can be a little different, but it's not difficult to learn.
Steps
Post one thank you message. If you use social media frequently, you might get birthday wishes from acquaintances, old friends, and people you don't even remember. Even your friends are probably not waiting anxiously to receive a personalized response. One message to your wall thanking everyone for the birthday wishes is common practice, and unlikely to offend anyone. Here are some example responses:- Thank you everyone for the birthday wishes! I'm having a great time!
- One man. One birthday. So many great birthday messages. :)
- IT'S MY BIRTHDAY SO I GET TO USE CAPS LOCK. Thank you for the kind thoughts everyone!
- Check out the examples section for more ideas.
Post a picture instead (optional). If you want to thank people in a more visible way, take a photo of your smiling face in a party hat, a birthday cake, or another birthday symbol. Post it along with a comment thanking everyone for their birthday wishes. This shows that you put a little effort into making your thanks special, but is still fairly simple to do.Advertisement
Reply to messages that go the extra distance. If someone posts a long, heartfelt birthday wish over social media, reply to it in person. Post a reply at least three sentences long.[1] You can reply directly to the comment, or in a private message. There's no need to respond with a new post on the other person's wall.- Older relatives, "low tech" people, and people who don't use social media much are all more likely to expect an individual response.
- You can use the opportunity to reconnect with friends you haven't seen in a long time, even if they only posted a short message for your birthday.
Respond briefly to other posts (optional). As mentioned above, there is no need to respond to every person individually. However, if you'd like to take the extra time, you could "Like" each Facebook post, or reply to any social media post with a short comment such as "Thanks for thinking of me!" or "Thanks, I appreciate it!"
Thank someone in person. When possible, thank someone in person after they give you a birthday present, or puts extra effort into a birthday wish. Give each friend or group of friends your full attention, smile, and make eye contact while delivering your thanks. Here are some ideas on how to do it:- Your card meant a lot to me. It really cheered me up.
- That was the perfect birthday gift! You know me so well.
- See the example section below for more ideas.
Send a card, email or letter. Relatives and friends older than yourself tend to appreciate receiving a thank you card in the mail. Always add a handwritten message. A short thank you message is fine, but adding a heartfelt message is recommended for people who have been unusually generous or kind.- Look at the examples section if you need ideas on what to write.
Be specific. Make your friend feel special for her contribution to your birthday celebration, and to your life. Mention the specific gift they gave you, or the card they sent. Tell them how you will use the gift, or that you will "enjoy it for a long time."
Say what your friend wants to hear. Never criticize the gift your friend sent you, bring up something embarrassing, or do anything else that might upset them. If you dislike the gift, try to find something about it that you do enjoy, or thank them for taking the time to pick out (or create) such a thoughtful gift.
Give out compliments. Let the well-wishers know how wonderful they are, and how much you appreciate them. You can use more specific compliments that match your friends', or use these examples:- Thank you, that's such a kind thing to say!
- Thank you, you've been a bright and wonderful part of my life.
- I'm so lucky to have a group of friends like you.
- Give yourselves a pat on the back for being such great friends this past year.
Post something unique. If you're posting a mass thank you message on social media, sometimes you want to stand out a little. Try one of the following ideas:- Say something funny, like "It feels great to have so many friends wishing me a happy birthday. You can all have 1/100th of my birthday cake."
- Say "Thank you!" in different languages. Try "Salamat!", "Foole tunk!", or pick your favorites by searching online.
- Link to a video or send a GIF. There are many "thank you" videos available online, or you can find a clip from your favorite movie, band, or cute animal acting excited.
Give a serious, meaningful thank you. Sometimes, it feels great to communicate your sincere, deep appreciation for a full year of kindness and support.[3] Tweak these examples to include specific events in your life for greater effect:- I feel blessed every day, but most of all on the day when my friends send a flood of support and smiles. Thank you everyone for reminding me what matters on my birthday this year."
- It's been a difficult year, but the support of my friends and family made all the difference. My heartfelt thanks to all of you who helped get me back on my feet and face the next year with a smile instead of a frown.
Community Q&A
- QuestionWhen anyone says happy birthday to me, what I should I say?
Community AnswerJust "thank you" or "thank you so much" and a smile should be enough. - QuestionHow do I reply if someone I hate says "happy birthday" to me?Community AnswerPut on your best smile, act pleasant and like you don't hate the person, and say, "Thank you." Don't say anything mean, though, as it will encourage him/her to be nasty.
- QuestionWhat should I do if I know that my friends planned a surprise birthday for me?
Community AnswerPretend you don't know, and act surprised at the party. Don't overdo it, though. Just smile and say something like, "Wow, guys, I can't believe you threw me a party, thank you so much!"
Tips
- You can treat birthday texts the same way you treat social media posts. Reply to the long, thought-out birthday wishes, and let your one social media post serve as thanks for the rest. (A mass text is another option, but make sure you know how much you'll be charged for it.)Thanks
References
About This Article
The best way to respond when someone wishes you happy birthday in person is to say, “Thank you!” You can also send a thank-you card or a letter, especially if the person gave you a gift. If the greetings are sent on social media, it’s okay to post one message thanking everyone for their birthday wishes, or you can post a short reply to each message. However, if someone posts a long, heartfelt wish, you should send them a personal reply. Keep reading for examples of compliments to give your well-wishers!
Reader Success Stories
"After going through a serious illness, I am relearning many things at school. Responses to family and friends with birthday greetings makes me nervous, so I searched the Internet and found your great website. Thanks for excellent suggestions!"..." more
Did this article help you?
⚠️ Disclaimer:
Content from Wiki How English language website. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike License; additional terms may apply.
Wiki How does not encourage the violation of any laws, and cannot be responsible for any violations of such laws, should you link to this domain, or use, reproduce, or republish the information contained herein.
- - A few of these subjects are frequently censored by educational, governmental, corporate, parental and other filtering schemes.
- - Some articles may contain names, images, artworks or descriptions of events that some cultures restrict access to
- - Please note: Wiki How does not give you opinion about the law, or advice about medical. If you need specific advice (for example, medical, legal, financial or risk management), please seek a professional who is licensed or knowledgeable in that area.
- - Readers should not judge the importance of topics based on their coverage on Wiki How, nor think a topic is important just because it is the subject of a Wiki article.
