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How do you say, “Merry Christmas” in Spanish? Learn Spanish for 33 Christmas and holiday greetings!
If you’re preparing to travel to a Spanish-speaking country such as Spain for the holidays, you’ll definitely want to know how to say Merry Christmas in Spanish!
Yes, you’ll certainly desire to wish others a Merry Christmas in a variety of formal and informal contexts. With new friends, family, store clerks, coworkers, and waiters, for example.
How do I know so many ways to wish people in Spanish, “Merry Christmas?” I’m a former Spanish teacher! Besides, I lived in Spain and have spent a few Christmases there.
All this to say, how to say “Merry Christmas” in Spanish should be among the top phrases to learn during Christmastime.
In this post, you’ll learn over 33 different ways of saying Merry Christmas in Spanish. Plus, learn Happy New Year, Happy Holidays, and other common Spanish Christmas sayings and phrases.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
How Do You Say Merry Christmas in Spanish?
So, what is the Spanish phrase for “Merry Christmas”? Let’s start with the most common way to this quintessential holiday greeting in Spanish:
1. Merry Christmas in Spanish – Feliz Navidad
Feliz Navidad is Merry Christmas in Spanish. Just like in English, you can say ¡Feliz Navidad! to anyone, of any age or gender.
—¡Feliz Navidad a todos nuestros seguidores en el blog!
—I wish all our blog followers a Merry Christmas!
The Christmas saying can also be used to greet someone or when you’re leaving. For example, when you get to a Christmas party or when you’re leaving!
Feliz means “happy” in Spanish, and Navidad means “Christmas.” Therefore, Feliz Navidad literally means “Happy Christmas.” As we all know from our yearly viewing of Love Actually, British people say “Happy Christmas” rather than “Merry Christmas” as we do in America.
But in Spanish, it’s all the same: “¡Feliz Navidad!” means “Merry Christmas!” in English.
How to Pronounce Merry Christmas in Spanish
Merry Christmas in Spanish is Feliz Navidad. Feliz Navidad is pronounced, feh-leez-nAH-bee-dod.
Merry Christmas Greetings in Spanish
A common misconception is that there’s only one way to translate things from English to Spanish. However, as you progress in your Spanish learning journey, you’ll find the language is much more nuanced.
With this in mind, wishing someone a merry Christmas in the Spanish language can take many variations! Here are some of the most popular:
2. Have a Merry Christmas in Spanish – ¡Que pases una feliz Navidad!
Sometimes, “Have a Merry Christmas!” feels more appropriate than the standard, Merry Christmas!”.
For example, when you’re leaving a friend after Church and you know you won’t see them again until after Christmas. You could shout, “Have a Merry Christmas!”
“Have a Merry Christmas” in Spanish language is “¡Que pases una feliz Navidad!”
—¡Que pases una feliz Navidad con tus seres queridos!
—Have a Merry Christmas with your loved ones!
A more literal translation is “¡Que tengas una Feliz Navidad!” (Tener means “to have” in Spanish.) You could technically say this. However, using the structure “que” plus the verb “pasar” conjugated in the present subjunctive in Spanish sounds more natural.
3. I Wish You a Merry Christmas in Spanish – Te deseo una feliz Navidad
“I wish you a Merry Christmas” in Spanish translates directly to “Te deseo una feliz Navidad.”
As stated (with the indirect object pronoun te), this saying can only be used informally.
—Te deseo una feliz Navidad.
—I wish you (informal) a merry Christmas.
However, you can change the IOP (me, te, le, nos, os, les) and conjugate the verb for the speaker to use in a variety of formal and informal contexts.
See the examples below for clarification:
—¡Les deseamos una feliz navidad!
—We wish you all a merry Christmas!
—Ellos nos desearon una feliz navidad.
—They wished us a Merry Christmas.
—John desea a tu familia una Feliz Navidad.
—John wishes your family a merry Christmas.
You could also use a similar structure with other verbs to convey a similar message. For example:
—Quiero desearte una feliz Navidad.
—I want to wish you a merry Christmas.
—Extendemos nuestros mejores deseos para que tengas una Navidad muy feliz.
—We extend our best wishes for you to have a Merry Christmas.
—Sara, te envío mis deseos sinceros de una Navidad alegre junto a tu familiar.
—Sara, I send you my heartfelt wishes for a joyful Christmas with your family.
—Parker and Emily nos transmitieron sus deseos de una Navidad feliz.
—Parker and Emily conveyed their wishes for a Merry Christmas to us.
4. Have a Very Merry Christmas in Spanish – Que tengas una muy feliz Navidad
The warm and friendly Spanish Christmas saying, “Have a very Merry Christmas” translation is “Que tengas una muy feliz Navidad.”
This uses the word “Que” followed by a verb conjugated in the subjunctive to express that you hope or desire this action for the person you are talking to.
—¡Que tengas una muy feliz Navidad junto a tu familia y amigos!
—Have a Very Merry Christmas with your family and friends!
This sentence conveys your sincere wishes for your friend to enjoy Christmas to the fullest!
5. Merry Christmas to you and your family in Spanish – Feliz Navidad a ti y a tu familia
“Merry Christmas to you and your family” is a warm Spanish Christmas greeting that you may use to express heartfelt wishes for Christmas joy and happiness to a person and their entire family.
To say this in Spanish, say “Feliz Navidad a ti y a tu familia.”
—¡Feliz Navidad a ti y a tu familia!
—Merry Christmas to you and your family!
6. Merry Christmas Everyone in Spanish – Feliz Navidad a todos
To address a group of people, large or small, at Christmastime, you can say, “Feliz Navidad a todos.” This is how you say “Merry Christmas, everyone” and also “Merry Christmas to all.”
—¡Feliz Navidad a todos!
—Merry Christmas, everyone!
While it’s not necessary to clarify to whom you are wishing a Merry Christmas, you may do so if it helps to clarify your point or if it’s your personal preference to do so.
7. Happy Christmas Holidays – Felices Pascuas de Navidad
In some Spanish-speaking countries, you may hear people wishing one another happy Christmas holidays using Felices Pascuas de Navidad.
This phrase better refers to the religious Christmas period (or holy days) rather than Christmas Day alone. The Christmas period typically runs from December 25th to January 6th (Epiphany).
—Deseándoles a usted y a sus seres queridos Felices Pascuas de Navidad, llenos de alegría.
—Wishing you and your loved ones Felices Pascuas de Navidad, filled with joy.
Holiday Greetings in Spanish
Besides wishing others a Merry Xmas in Spanish, it’s commonplace to send good wishes for the entire holiday season.
8. Happy Holidays in Spanish – Felices fiestas
To wish someone a general, “Happy Holidays” use the phrase, “Felices fiestas.”
This Spanish holiday saying includes all the holidays of the season including Christmas, New Year’s Eve, Three Kings Day, etc.
If you think the word “felices” comes from “feliz,” the Spanish word for “happy,” you’re correct! Since adjectives must agree in number and gender with the words they modify in the Spanish languages, feliz turns into felices since it’s modifying a plural word (fiestas or holidays in English).
Fiesta most commonly means “party” in Spanish. However, it can also refer to holidays, festivals, and celebrations.
Put it all together, and you’ve got, ¡Felices fiestas!
—¡Felices fiestas a ti y a tu familiar!
—Happy holidays to you and your family!
9. Seasons Greetings in Spanish – ¡Felices Fiestas!
“Season’s Greetings” is often used during the holiday season as a friendly way to extend good wishes to people without specifying a particular holiday.
Season’s Greetings in Spanish uses the same phrase as Happy Holidays: ¡Felices Fiestas!
—A medida que el año llega a su fin una vez más, les deseamos Felices Fiestas y mejores deseos para el Año Nuevo.
—As the year draws to a close once again, we wish you Season’s Greetings and best wishes for the New Year.
10. Warm Wishes in Spanish – Mis Mejores Deseos en Esta Navidad
Mis mejores deseos en esta Navidad is another way of wishing Merry Christmas in Spanish. Warm wishes is a friendly Christmas expression used to convey heartfelt and sincere good intentions for happiness, health, or success.
—Mis mejores deseos en esta Navidad. Que encuentres felicidad y paz en cada moment.
—Warm wishes this Christmas. May you find happiness and peace in every moment.
For this Christmas saying, you can change who is doing the well-wishing by modifying the possessive adjective in Spanish.
- My warmest wishes this Christmas – Mis Mejores Deseos en Esta Navidad
- Our best wishes for Christmas – Nuestros mejores deseos en esta Navidad
Notice the meaning changes slightly in the above examples, but it makes sense in context that you’re sending good wishes to others.
11. I hope you have a wonderful holiday in Spanish – Te deseo lo mejor en estas vacaciones
To express your desire for someone to enjoy a fantastic and memorable holiday season, you can say “Te deseo lo mejor en estas vacaciones.” This means, “I hope you have a wonderful holiday.”
—¡Te deseo lo mejor en estas vacaciones con tus sobrinos y sobrinas en Texas!
—I hope you have a wonderful holiday with your nieces and nephews in Texas!
This saying is informal, so be sure to change the Indirect Object Pronoun and verb conjugation of the verb if necessary. For example:
—Espero que su familia tenga unas maravillosas vacaciones.
—I hope your family has a wonderful holiday vacation.
—Marina le dijo a su jefa que espera que tenga unas vacaciones maravillosas.
—Marina told her boss she hopes he has a wonderful holiday.
12. Hope you have a good/lovely time – Que la pases bien/lindo in Spanish
This very frequently used expression in Spanish is used to wish someone a pleasant experience or event, such as a vacation, a party, or any occasion where they’ll be having fun.
Pasarlo bien is a friendly and casual way to say, “Have fun!” in Spanish. The addition of “Que la pases” adds the ideas of hoping someone has a good time (at whichever Christmas occasion they attend, in the case of this blog post).
—Que la pases bien en tu fiesta de Navidad en la oficina.
—I hope you have a good time at your office Christmas party.
13. May Your Days be Merry and Bright in Spanish – Que tus días sean alegres y brillantes
May Your Days be Merry and Bright is one of the common Spanish Christmas sayings often seen on Christmas memorabilia or heard in Christmas songs.
If you’d like to wish someone joyful and bright days during the holidays, you can say, “Que tus días sean alegres y brillantes” in Spanish.
—Que tus días sean alegres y brillantes, llenos del amor de Cristo.
—May your days be merry and bright, filled with the love of Christ.
Other Happy Holidays Greetings in Spanish
In addition to sending your best merry Christmas wishes to others, here are some greetings for some of the other holidays that fall during the Christmas season.
14. Merry Christmas & Happy New Year in Spanish – Feliz Navidad y Próspero Año Nuevo
If you want to wish someone well for both Christmas and New Year’s, you can say “Feliz Navidad y Próspero Año Nuevo.”
This is a common saying you’ll hear during the festive season, and you’ll need to know if it you plan on spending New Year’s Eve in Spain. You can use it both formally and informally.
Notice that instead of wishing someone a “Feliz” (Happy) New Year in this case, the word “próspero” is used instead. Próspero means prosperous.
—¡Feliz Navidad y Próspero Año Nuevo a todos! Que este año nos brinde abundancia y prosperidad en todos los aspectos de la vida.
—Merry Christmas & Happy New Year to everyone! May this year bring us abundance and prosperity in all aspects of life.
Find more ways to say Happy New Year in Spanish.
15. Happy Three Kings Day in Spanish – ¡Feliz Día de los Tres Magos!
In many Spanish countries, they celebrate Epiphany to commemorate the visit of the Magi (Three Wise Men) to the baby Jesus.
The Reyes Magos are said to bring presents to children on January 6 (not unlike Santa Claus), so you may hear references to them around this time.
If you’re in a country that celebrates this day with vigor, wish people a “Happy Three Kings Day” by saying “¡Feliz Día de los Tres Magos!”
—¡Feliz Día de los Tres Magos! Que los Reyes Magos te protejan.
—Happy Three Kings Day! May the three Wise Men protect you.
16. Happy Fool’s Day – Feliz Día de los Santos Inocentes (Fools’ Day)
If you are going to be in Spain, Mexico, or a few other Latin American countries on December 28th, you’ll need to watch your back!
Why? Because this day is akin to April Fool’s Day in America!
—¡Feliz Día de los Santos Inocentes! No te dejes engañar por las bromas hoy.
—Happy Fool’s Day! Don’t be fooled by pranks today.
17. Happy Hanukkah in Spanish – Feliz Janucá
Hanukkah is a Jewish festival that falls in November or December. Also called the “Festival of Lights,” it’s celebrated to commemorate the miracle of the eight-day oil lamp in the Temple.
To convey your hope for your Jewish friends’ joy and blessings, you can say “Feliz Janucá” which is “Happy Hanukkah” in Spanish.
—¡Feliz Janucá para ti y toda tu familiar!
—Happy Hanukkah to you and your entire family!
18. Joyous Kwanzaa in Spanish – Feliz Kwanzaa
Kwanzaa is an annual week-long celebration observed in the United States and other nations, marked by lighting a kinara (a candle holder), daily discussions, and exchanging symbolic gifts.
To wish those who celebrate a joyous Kwanzaa in Spanish, simply say, “Feliz Kwanzaa.”
—¡Feliz Kwanzaa para ti y los de tu comunidad!
—Joyous Kwanzaa to you and those in your community!
15 More Christmas Sayings in Spanish
You may be surprised to hear that there are even more ways to talk about the Christmas season in Spanish! Here’s a list of more Spanish Christmas sayings to help you interact with native speakers in a natural way.
🎄 Feliz Nochebuena – Happy Christmas Eve
❄️ ¡Que tengas unas vacaciones invernales fantásticas! – Have a great winter vacation!
👋 ¡Nos vemos el próximo año! – See you next year!
🎁 ¿Qué te regalaron para Navidad? – What did you get for Christmas?
🎅 ¡La Navidad está en puertas! – Christmas is right around the corner!
🌟 ¡Disfruta las vacaciones! – Enjoy the holidays!
🌲 ¡Felices vacaciones! – Happy Holidays!
🌟 ¡Mis mejores deseos! – Warm wishes!
🎉 ¡Mis mejores deseos para el año nuevo! – Best wishes for the New Year!
🌴 Te deseo lo mejor en estas vacaciones – I hope you have a wonderful holiday.
🌠 Que se cumplan tus deseos/sueños. – May your dreams come true.
🥂 Brindo por la paz, la alegría y la felicidad. – A toast to peace, joy, and happiness.
❤️ Todo lo que quiero para Navidad eres tú. – All I want for Xmas is you.
🌺 Que lo pases lindo. – Hope you have a nice time.
❤️ Que tengas una Navidad llena de amor. – Hope you have a Christmas full of love.
For some context around these phrases and modeling by a native speaker, watch this video ⤵
Merry Christmas in Spanish Song
You might already know that “Feliz Navidad y Próspero Año Nuevo” means “Merry Christmas and Happy New Year” because of the popular Merry Christmas song in Spanish by José Feliciano.
If not, singing along with Feliz Navidad (I Wanna Wish You a Merry Christmas) is a great way to learn and remember how to say Merry Christmas AND Happy New Year in Spanish! Watch it now. ⤵
How to Say Merry Christmas in Spanish: FAQ’s
How do you say Christmas in Spanish?
Christmas in Spanish is “Navidad.”
What is the origin of the word Navidad?
The word “Navidad”in Spanish is derived from the Latin word “natalis.” This means “birth” or “birthday,” referring to the birth of Jesus Christ. Over time, this Latin term evolved into various Romance languages, including Spanish.
Is Feliz Navidad Merry Christmas in Spanish?
Yes, Feliz Navidad means Merry Christmas in Spanish.
What is Merry Christmas in Spain?
In Spain, they say Feliz Navidad to express Merry Christmas to each other.
What is Happy Christmas in Spanish?
Happy Christmas in Spanish is Feliz Navidad.
How do you respond to Merry Christmas in Spanish?
To respond after someone has wished you a Merry Christmas, you can say “Feliz Navidad a ti también.” This means, “Merry Christmas to you, too” in Spanish.
How do You Spell Merry Christmas in Spanish?
Spanish for Merry Christmas is Feliz Navidad. It’s written f-e-l-i-z <space> n-a-v-i-d-a-d.
Merry Christmas in Spanish Translation: Conclusion
In conclusion, “¡Feliz Navidad!” is one way to say “Merry Christmas” in the Spanish language. But, there are many other festive ways to greet and wish each other a happy Christmas season in Spanish.
Now that you’ve reviewed this blog post, you’re ready to experience the Christmas season in Spain or another Spanish-speaking country! ¡Feliz Navidad!
Blogs on Visiting Spain During the Holidays
Going to Spain during the holidays? Here are some related articles. ⤵
- How to Celebrate New Year’s Eve in Spain
- What is Misa del Gallo? The Christmas Service You Can’t Miss!
- All About Olentzero, the Basque Santa
