Merry Christmas in Spanish
Feliz Navidad
Say it like this: feh-LEES nah-vee-DAHD
Big letters show the part to say louder.
Quick answer
- In Spanish, Merry Christmas is Feliz Navidad, said like feh-LEES nah-vee-DAHD.
- Happy New Year is Feliz Año Nuevo.
- People say it in Spain, Mexico, Colombia, Argentina and more.
What Feliz Navidad means
'Feliz' means happy and 'Navidad' means Christmas, so the phrase is 'Happy Christmas'. Navidad is related to the English word 'nativity', which means birth.
Other ways to say it in Spanish
Felices fiestas
Say it like this: feh-LEE-sess fee-ES-tahs
Means "happy holidays". It covers Christmas and New Year and is friendly for anyone.
Feliz Nochebuena
Say it like this: feh-LEES noh-cheh-BWEH-nah
Said on the evening of December 24, which Spanish speakers call Nochebuena, or "Good Night".
Happy New Year
Feliz Año Nuevo
Say it like this: feh-LEES AH-nyoh NWEH-voh
Happy New Year
To write in a Christmas card
Feliz Navidad y próspero Año Nuevo
Say it like this: feh-LEES nah-vee-DAHD ee PROHS-peh-roh AH-nyoh NWEH-voh
Where people speak Spanish
SpainMexicoColombiaArgentinaPeruChileCubaGuatemala
Spanish (Español) belongs to the Romance (Indo-European) language family.
Hear it from Rally on Christmas Eve
On Christmas Eve, Rally the corgi rides the Christmas Train around the world. He reaches Mexico City at about 12:40 AM local time, then visits Buenos Aires, Bogotá, Lima, and kids learn to say Feliz Navidad as he lands.
Watch Rally arrive in Mexico City →Christmas traditions where people speak Spanish
- Nochebuena, the Christmas Eve dinner: On December 24, called Nochebuena (Good Night), many Spanish families share a big dinner that can last late into the night. Seafood, soup, roast lamb and turrón, a sweet made of honey and almonds, are common.[3]
- The belén, or nativity scene: Nativity scenes, called belén or pesebre, have a long tradition in Spain and appear in homes, schools and stores. The Christmas tree is not traditional there, but it has become very popular too.[3]
- The Three Kings on January 5: Spanish children traditionally get their presents from the Three Kings on the night of January 5, not on Christmas Day. Many children write them letters and leave shoes out to be filled.[3][4]
🎄 Quick game: Merry Christmas in Spanish
Three quick questions for kids. Tap an answer to play.
Celebrate with kids
Say Merry Christmas in more languages
- PortugueseFeliz Natal
- CherokeeᎤᎵᎮᎵᏍᏗ ᏓᏂᏍᏓᏲᎯᎲ
- Greenlandic (Kalaallisut)Juullimi pilluarit
- Haitian CreoleJwaye Nwèl
- NavajoNizhónígo Késhmish Da’doołeeł
- QuechuaSumaq kausay kachun Navidad qampaq
- GuaraniFeliz Navidad
- Gujaratiનાતાલની શુભકામનાઓ
Questions parents ask
How do you say Merry Christmas in Spanish?
The most common way is "Feliz Navidad" (feh-LEES nah-vee-DAHD). It works in every Spanish-speaking country, from Spain to Mexico to Argentina. People also say "Felices fiestas" for happy holidays, or "Feliz Nochebuena" on the evening of December 24.[1][3]
How do you pronounce Feliz Navidad?
Say "feh-LEES nah-vee-DAHD", with the stress on LEES and DAHD. In Latin America the z in feliz sounds like an s. In much of Spain it sounds like th, so you will hear "feh-LEETH". The v in Navidad is soft, close to a b, and the final d is gentle.[1]
What does Feliz Navidad mean?
Feliz means happy and Navidad means Christmas, so the phrase means Happy Christmas. Spanish uses feliz where English uses merry. Navidad is related to the English word nativity, which means birth, and it points to the birth of Jesus in the Christmas story.[1]
How do you write Feliz Navidad?
Write it as two words: Feliz Navidad. There are no accent marks in it. Both words usually start with a capital letter on cards. In Spanish sentences Navidad keeps its capital because it is the name of a holiday, even though months and days of the week are lower case.[1]
How do you say Happy New Year in Spanish?
In Latin America, say "Feliz Año Nuevo" (feh-LEES AH-nyoh NWEH-voh). In Spain, "Próspero Año Nuevo", meaning prosperous new year, is also common. The ñ in año sounds like ny in canyon. Cards often combine both: Feliz Navidad y próspero Año Nuevo.[2]
Is there a formal way to say Merry Christmas in Spanish?
Feliz Navidad is polite enough for teachers, neighbors and family. To be more formal, say "Le deseo una feliz Navidad", which means I wish you a Merry Christmas. Among friends, "Felices fiestas" is a relaxed choice that also covers the New Year.[1]
When do people say Feliz Navidad?
People start saying it in early December and keep going through December 25. Many also say "Feliz Nochebuena" on Christmas Eve. In Spain the Christmas season lasts until Epiphany on January 6, so warm wishes and greetings continue into the first week of January.[3]
Is Christmas Eve or Christmas Day the main celebration in Spanish-speaking places?
In Spain and many Spanish-speaking countries, the big family dinner is on Christmas Eve, called Nochebuena. Christmas Day is calmer. In Spain, children traditionally get gifts on January 6 from the Three Kings, although many families now give presents on December 25 as well.[3][4]
What is a popular Christmas tradition in Spain?
Many families set up a nativity scene called a belén or pesebre. You can see them in homes, schools and stores. The belén has a long tradition in Spain, while the Christmas tree is newer. Children often help place the figures of Mary, Joseph, baby Jesus, shepherds and animals.[3]
How can I teach kids to say Feliz Navidad?
Clap the beats together: fe-LIZ na-vi-DAD. Stomp on the loud syllables LIZ and DAD. Then sing along to the song "Feliz Navidad" by José Feliciano, which repeats the phrase many times. Kids can also make a card with the words and the nativity scene they draw.[1]
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 AmazonSources
We check every greeting against dictionaries, language institutes and cultural sources.
- merry Christmas (translations), Wiktionary
- happy New Year (translations), Wiktionary
- Observance of Christmas by country, Wikipedia
- Christmas in Spain, WhyChristmas.com
- Spanish Christmas Lottery, Wikipedia
