Merry Christmas in Telugu
క్రిస్మస్ శుభాకాంక్షలు
Krismas shubhakankshalu
Say it like this: KRIS-mus shoo-bhah-KAHNK-sha-loo
Big letters show the part to say louder.
Quick answer
- In Telugu, Merry Christmas is క్రిస్మస్ శుభాకాంక్షలు (Krismas shubhakankshalu), said like KRIS-mus shoo-bhah-KAHNK-sha-loo.
- Happy New Year is నూతన సంవత్సర శుభాకాంక్షలు (Nūtana saṃvatsara shubhākāṅkṣalu).
- People say it in India (Andhra Pradesh), India (Telangana), United States, Malaysia.
What Krismas shubhakankshalu means
'Krismas' (Christmas, borrowed from English) + 'shubhakankshalu' (good wishes). Together it means Christmas good wishes.
Telugu is written in its own rounded script, and each letter carries a vowel that can be changed with small marks.
Other ways to say it in Telugu
Happy New Year
నూతన సంవత్సర శుభాకాంక్షలు
Nūtana saṃvatsara shubhākāṅkṣalu
Say it like this: NOO-tuh-nuh sum-vuht-SUH-ruh shoo-bhah-KAHNK-sha-loo
new year good wishes
Where people speak Telugu
India (Andhra Pradesh)India (Telangana)United StatesMalaysia
Telugu (తెలుగు) belongs to the Dravidian 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 Telugu today, then follow his trip.
Follow Rally on Christmas Eve →Christmas traditions where people speak Telugu
- Midnight services in Secunderabad: Celebrations begin with midnight services in churches in Secunderabad, including the 200 year old St John's Church. Families wear their best clothes, greet one another and cut cakes after the prayers.[2]
- Medak Cathedral: Medak, about 100 km from Hyderabad, has a large Gothic church built between 1914 and 1924 from granite, with stained glass showing Bible stories. Crowds gather there for three days of Christmas celebrations.[2]
- Cake and carols in Lalaguda: Lalaguda in Secunderabad is nicknamed Little England. Anglo-Indian families there bake Christmas cake at home, and carol singing is heard in Hyderabad and Secunderabad neighbourhoods during the season.[2]
🎄 Quick game: Merry Christmas in Telugu
Three quick questions for kids. Tap an answer to play.
Say Merry Christmas in more languages
- Kannadaಕ್ರಿಸ್ಮಸ್ ಹಬ್ಬದ ಶುಭಾಶಯಗಳು
- Malayalamക്രിസ്തുമസ് ആശംസകൾ
- Tamilகிறிஸ்துமஸ் வாழ்த்துக்கள்
- Dari (Afghan Persian)کریسمس مبارک
- MongolianЗул сарын мэнд хүргэе
- Nepaliक्रिसमसको शुभकामना
- Tagalog (Filipino)Maligayang Pasko
- Cantonese聖誕快樂
Questions parents ask
How do you say Merry Christmas in Telugu?
You can say "క్రిస్మస్ శుభాకాంక్షలు" (Krismas shubhakankshalu). Official Telugu Christmas messages, including one from India's Prime Minister's office, use శుభాకాంక్షలు, which means good wishes, with the word Christmas. Many Telugu speakers also simply say Merry Christmas in English, especially in cities such as Hyderabad.[1]
How do you pronounce "Krismas shubhakankshalu"?
Say it like this: KRIS-mus shoo-bhah-KAHNK-sha-loo. Shubhakankshalu is long, so say it slowly in parts: shu-bha-kaank-sha-lu. The kaank part gets the strongest beat. The bh sound is a b with a little puff of air, and the final lu is short and light.
What does "Krismas shubhakankshalu" mean?
It means Christmas good wishes. Krismas is the English word Christmas, and shubhakankshalu means good wishes. Telugu speakers use shubhakankshalu for many festivals and happy events, such as birthdays and Ugadi, so one new word unlocks many greetings. The same word also appears in the New Year greeting on this page.[1]
How do you write Merry Christmas in Telugu?
In Telugu script it is క్రిస్మస్ శుభాకాంక్షలు. In English letters you may see Krismas shubhakankshalu or Christmas subhakankshalu. Telugu writing joins letters into blocks, and the final u sound is written with a small mark. Telugu reads from left to right and has no capital letters.[1]
How do you say Happy New Year in Telugu?
Happy New Year is "నూతన సంవత్సర శుభాకాంక్షలు" (Nūtana saṃvatsara shubhākāṅkṣalu), said like NOO-tuh-nuh sum-vuht-SUH-ruh shoo-bhah-KAHNK-sha-loo. It means new year good wishes. Telugu speakers also celebrate their own new year, Ugadi, in spring, so New Year on January 1 uses this wording to be clear.[3]
Is there a formal and a casual way to say Merry Christmas in Telugu?
Krismas shubhakankshalu works for everyone. For elders or teachers, you can add a respectful word such as garu after a name, as in Anitha garu. For friends, many people simply say Merry Christmas in English too. The wording of the greeting itself stays the same for all ages.[1]
When do people say Merry Christmas in Telugu?
People say it on Christmas Eve at midnight services, on Christmas morning when they meet, and when sharing cake with neighbours. It is also written on cards and sent in messages before December 25, and Christians in Hyderabad and Secunderabad say it at church doors after the service.[2]
Is the main Christmas celebration on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day for Telugu speakers?
Both days matter. Churches in Hyderabad and Secunderabad hold midnight services on Christmas Eve, and families celebrate with cake and visits on Christmas Day, December 25. Families wear their best clothes, greet one another after the prayers and cut cakes, so greetings are heard on both days.[2]
What is a Christmas tradition for Telugu speaking families?
Many families go to midnight services, wear their best clothes and cut cake afterwards. In Lalaguda, a part of Secunderabad nicknamed Little England, families bake cake at home. Crowds also visit the big Medak church for three days.[2]
How can I teach Telugu Christmas words to kids?
Teach Krismas first, then split shubhakankshalu into four taps: shu, bha, kaank, sha-lu. Children can clap once per tap and make a paper star or cake card with the Telugu letters. Later, add the New Year wish, which ends with the same word, so they hear shubhakankshalu twice.
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We check every greeting against dictionaries, language institutes and cultural sources.
- PM's Christmas greeting in Telugu, PM India
- Gaiety marks Christmas in Telugu states, The News Minute
- Happy New Year in Telugu, Ling App