B2 noun Neutral

birthday

/ˈbɜːrθdeɪ/

A birthday is the annual anniversary of the day a person was born, often celebrated as a milestone of aging. In academic and legal contexts, it is the standard reference point for determining a person's age, legal capacity, and eligibility for certain rights or obligations.

Examples

3 of 5
1

I am planning to bake a chocolate cake for my sister's twenty-first birthday.

I am planning to bake a chocolate cake for my sister's twenty-first birthday.

2

The applicant must provide documentation proving they have reached their eighteenth birthday prior to the election.

The applicant must provide documentation proving they have reached their eighteenth birthday prior to the election.

3

Happy birthday! Let's go out tonight and celebrate properly.

Happy birthday! Let's go out tonight and celebrate properly.

Word Family

Noun
birthday
Adjective
birth
Related
birth, birthright
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Memory Tip

Visualize a 'Birth' certificate attached to a 'Day' on a calendar. The day you were birthed is your birthday.

Quick Quiz

Since I was out of town last week, I am sending you a _______ birthday card today.

Correct!

The correct answer is: belated

Examples

1

I am planning to bake a chocolate cake for my sister's twenty-first birthday.

everyday

I am planning to bake a chocolate cake for my sister's twenty-first birthday.

2

The applicant must provide documentation proving they have reached their eighteenth birthday prior to the election.

formal

The applicant must provide documentation proving they have reached their eighteenth birthday prior to the election.

3

Happy birthday! Let's go out tonight and celebrate properly.

informal

Happy birthday! Let's go out tonight and celebrate properly.

4

The longitudinal study tracked the participants' development from their first birthday until their tenth.

academic

The longitudinal study tracked the participants' development from their first birthday until their tenth.

5

Our corporate policy allows employees to take a half-day of paid leave on their actual birthday.

business

Our corporate policy allows employees to take a half-day of paid leave on their actual birthday.

Word Family

Noun
birthday
Adjective
birth
Related
birth, birthright

Common Collocations

celebrate a birthday to observe the anniversary of one's birth with festivities
milestone birthday a particularly significant birthday, such as turning 18, 21, or 50
birthday present a gift given to someone to celebrate the day they were born
upcoming birthday a birthday that will happen in the near future
birthday treat a special activity or gift intended to mark the occasion

Common Phrases

birthday suit

a humorous way of saying someone is completely naked (the way they were born)

belated birthday

wishes or gifts given after the actual date of the birthday has passed

birthday boy/girl

the person whose birthday it is on that specific day

Often Confused With

birthday vs anniversary

An anniversary is a general term for the yearly return of any date (like a wedding), while a birthday is strictly for birth.

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Usage Notes

The word is primarily used as a countable noun. In formal or legal documents, the phrase 'date of birth' is often preferred over 'birthday'.

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Common Mistakes

Learners often forget to use the possessive 's when talking about someone else's birthday (e.g., saying 'my mother birthday' instead of 'my mother's birthday').

💡

Memory Tip

Visualize a 'Birth' certificate attached to a 'Day' on a calendar. The day you were birthed is your birthday.

📖

Word Origin

Derived from Middle English 'birthe-day', which combines 'birth' (from Old Norse byrð) and 'day' (from Old English dæg).

Grammar Patterns

countable noun with plural form 'birthdays' often used as a noun adjunct (e.g., birthday cake, birthday card) preceded by a possessive pronoun or 's
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Cultural Context

In many cultures, birthdays are celebrated with rituals like singing 'Happy Birthday', blowing out candles on a cake, and receiving gifts.

Quick Quiz

Since I was out of town last week, I am sending you a _______ birthday card today.

Correct!

The correct answer is: belated

Related Phrases

Related Words

pale

A1

Describes something that has very little color or is much lighter than usual. It is often used to describe a person's face when they are ill or a color that is mixed with a lot of white.

lung

A1

The lungs are two organs inside your chest that you use to breathe. They bring oxygen into your body and remove carbon dioxide when you breathe out.

tropical

A1

Relating to the hot regions of the Earth near the equator. It describes weather that is very warm and wet, or plants and animals that come from these areas.

trader

A1

A trader is a person whose job is to buy and sell goods, stocks, or other items for profit. They can work in a small local market or on large international financial exchanges.

indoor

A1

Describes something that is located, happens, or is used inside a building rather than outside. It is an adjective used before a noun to talk about activities or objects protected from the weather.

threshold

A1

A threshold is the physical area at the bottom of a doorway that you step over to enter a room or building. It also refers to the level or point at which something starts to happen or changes.

tribute

A1

A tribute is something that you say, do, or give to show your respect and admiration for someone. It is often a public act used to honor a person's life, work, or memory.

elder

A1

Used to describe a person who is older than another, especially within a family. It is also used to refer to people who have a high status or more experience because of their age.

russian

A1

Relating to Russia, its people, its language, or its culture. It describes things that come from or are connected to the largest country in the world.

southeastern

A1

Located in or coming from the direction between south and east. It describes a place, a region, or a wind that is in the corner between the bottom and the right on a map.

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