How to Say Merry Christmas in Gujarati

Asia

Nov 3

Written by Kelsey Cecil

Merry Christmas in Gujarati

નાતાલની શુભકામનાઓ

Naatalni shubhkaamnaao

Say it like this: NAA-tahl-nee shoob-KAAM-naa-oh

Big letters show the part to say louder.

Quick answer

In Gujarati, Merry Christmas is નાતાલની શુભકામનાઓ (Naatalni shubhkaamnaao), said like NAA-tahl-nee shoob-KAAM-naa-oh.
Happy New Year is સાલ મુબારક (Saal mubaarak).
People say it in India (Gujarat), United Kingdom, United States, Kenya and more.

What Naatalni shubhkaamnaao means

'Naatal' (Christmas, from Latin natalis, birth) + 'ni' (of) + 'shubhkaamnaao' (good wishes). Together it means good wishes of Christmas.

Gujarati is written in its own script, which looks a lot like Hindi's Devanagari but has no top line.

Other ways to say it in Gujarati

ક્રિસમસની શુભકામનાઓ

Krisamasni shubhkaamnaao

Say it like this: KRIS-mas-nee shoob-KAAM-naa-oh

Uses the English word Christmas instead of Naatal. This form appears in Gujarati news reports of official Christmas greetings.

Happy New Year

સાલ મુબારક

Saal mubaarak

Say it like this: SAAL moo-BAA-rak

blessed new year

Where people speak Gujarati

India (Gujarat)United KingdomUnited StatesKenyaTanzaniaSouth Africa

Gujarati (ગુજરાતી) belongs to the Indo-Aryan (Indo-European) language family.

Say it with Rally on Christmas Eve

On Christmas Eve, Rally the corgi rides the Christmas Train to more than 100 places and teaches kids how to say Merry Christmas at every stop. Practice Gujarati today, then follow his trip.

Follow Rally on Christmas Eve →

Christmas traditions where people speak Gujarati

Christmas garba: Gujarati Christians dance garba, the folk circle dance of Gujarat, at Christmas. In cities such as Ahmedabad, Vadodara and Surat, tents go up on church grounds and people dance for hours in festive clothes.^[3]
Christian garba songs: Local songwriters write new Christian garba songs in Gujarati for Christmas. One Ahmedabad songwriter has composed about 60, and his troupe performs them at Christmas and at weddings.^[3]
Night prayers, carols and lights: Churches hold special prayers on the night before Christmas. Carol singing, Christmas lights and decorated trees are part of the celebrations, and in some places people of other faiths join in.^[2]

🎄 Quick game: Merry Christmas in Gujarati

Three quick questions for kids. Tap an answer to play.

Say Merry Christmas in more languages

See all 103 languages →

Questions parents ask

How do you say Merry Christmas in Gujarati?

You can say "નાતાલની શુભકામનાઓ" (Naatalni shubhkaamnaao), the Christmas greeting listed by Omniglot. Naatal is the Gujarati word for Christmas, and it comes from the same Latin root as Natal and Nativity. Many Gujarati speakers also use the English words Merry Christmas in messages.^[1]

How do you pronounce "Naatalni shubhkaamnaao"?

Say it like this: NAA-tahl-nee shoob-KAAM-naa-oh. The capital letters show the part to stress. Stretch the aa sounds a little, since Gujarati long vowels are held longer than short ones. Children can clap the beats first: naa-tal-ni, shubh-kaam-naa-o.

What does "Naatalni shubhkaamnaao" mean?

It means good wishes of Christmas. Naatal is the Gujarati name for Christmas, and shubhkaamnaao means good wishes. It is a friendly, slightly formal greeting that works for cards, messages and conversations alike, and it can be used with both friends and elders.^[1]

How do you write Merry Christmas in Gujarati?

In Gujarati script it is નાતાલની શુભકામનાઓ. Gujarati letters hang from no top line, unlike Hindi. In English letters you may see Natal ni shubhkamnao or Natalni shubhkamnao, because spellings in Latin letters differ. For a printed card, a Gujarati speaker can check the spelling.^[1]

How do you say Happy New Year in Gujarati?

Happy New Year is "સાલ મુબારક" (Saal mubaarak), said like SAAL moo-BAA-rak. It means blessed new year. Gujarati New Year, Bestu Varas, comes after Diwali, and this greeting is traditionally said then. For January 1, many people say Happy New Year in English.^[1]

Is there a formal and a casual way to say Merry Christmas in Gujarati?

Naatalni shubhkaamnaao is polite and suits teachers, elders and cards. Many Gujarati speakers also say Merry Christmas in English with friends. There is no separate casual Gujarati phrase that children need to learn, so one greeting is enough for every situation.^[1][2]

When do people say Merry Christmas in Gujarati?

People say it on Christmas Eve, after night prayers at church, and on Christmas Day when they visit family and friends. Messages and cards with the greeting go out in the days before December 25.^[2]

Is the main Christmas celebration on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day for Gujarati speakers?

Churches hold night prayers on Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day, December 25, is the main day for family visits and food. In some Gujarati Christian communities, garba dancing is part of the Christmas celebration. The greeting is used on both days.^[2][3]

What is a Christmas tradition for Gujarati speaking families?

In cities such as Ahmedabad, Vadodara and Surat, Gujarati Christians dance garba at Christmas. Tents are set up on church grounds with a stage, and people dance for hours. Songwriters write Christian garba songs just for the season.^[3]

How can I teach Gujarati Christmas words to kids?

Start small. Teach Naatal first, since it is the key word. Then add shubhkaamnaao in pieces: shubh-kaam-naa-o. Say the greeting together a few times, then write it on a card in Gujarati script. A Gujarati-speaking friend or relative can record the real sound for the children.

Rally Takes the Train book cover: a watercolor corgi peeking from a red train

A bedtime story after seeing SantaRally Takes the Train is a five-minute rhyming picture book about a corgi’s first train ride, hand-painted in real watercolor by Leslie Dunn. $16.99 on Amazon, ages 0 to 8.

Buy on Amazon (opens in a new tab)