A guide to saying it like a local
How to Say "Merry christmas" in Spanish
Say 'Feliz Navidad' to wish someone a Merry Christmas in Spanish. A warm greeting for the holiday season.
Feliz Navidad
feh-LEES nah-vee-DAHDneutral
Spanish TTS · 0:01
Use this phrase when greeting people during the Christmas season, from late November through December. It's perfect for friends, family, and even shopkeepers.
Alternatives
- Felices FiestasUse this to include New Year's and other holidays.
- Feliz Año NuevoThis specifically means 'Happy New Year'.
Ways to get it wrong
Don't say 'Feliz Christo'
'Navidad' is the Spanish word for Christmas, not 'Christo'.
Pronounce the 'v'
Spanish 'v' sounds like a soft 'b'; try to make it light and quick.
A small cultural note
While 'Feliz Navidad' is universally understood, some regions might use local greetings or add specific wishes for the New Year.
When you'd actually say this
-
Checkout Line at the Supermercado
You're placing your groceries on the belt at a busy Walmart in Monterrey on December 23rd, and the cashier hands you your receipt with a tired but warm smile. You make eye contact and say 'Feliz Navidad' before picking up your bags. It costs you nothing and she visibly brightens.
-
Video Call with Host Family
Your screen shows the living room of the family you stayed with in Guadalajara, decorated with a nacimiento in the corner and paper stars hanging from the ceiling. Before anyone has said much, you get in first with 'Feliz Navidad' and watch the grandmother clap her hands together once in delight.
-
Passing a Neighbor on the Stairs
You're leaving your apartment building in Madrid on the morning of December 25th, and your neighbor from the third floor is coming in with a bag of leftover rosca. There's no time for a full conversation, so you exchange a quick 'Feliz Navidad' in the stairwell and keep moving.
Related ways to say it in Spanish
- ¡Que tengas una Feliz Navidad! — Wishing you a Merry Christmas
- Slightly warmer and more personal than the standalone phrase; used when you want to direct the wish specifically at the person rather than just exchanging pleasantries.
- Feliz Navidad y próspero Año Nuevo — Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year
- The fuller, slightly more formal version common in written cards, work emails, and announcements; less common in casual spoken exchanges.
- Buenas fiestas — Good holidays
- More neutral than 'Feliz Navidad'; useful in professional or multicultural settings in Spain and urban Latin America where you're unsure of the person's background.
- Que pases bonita Navidad — Hope you have a lovely Christmas
- Conversational and affectionate; heard more in Mexico and Central America among friends and family, less in formal or written contexts.
Notes for English speakers
- English speakers often stress the first syllable — 'FEH-liz' — by habit, but the stress falls on the second: 'feh-LEES'; the final 's' is fully pronounced, unlike in some regional Spanish accents where it softens.
- 'Navidad' shares a root with 'nativity' in English, which can actually help you remember it, but be careful not to over-pronounce the 'd' at the end — in most Spanish accents it fades to almost nothing, closer to a soft 'th' sound than a hard English 'd'.
- Unlike English, where 'Merry Christmas' is almost exclusively spoken aloud, 'Feliz Navidad' appears just as naturally in text messages, WhatsApp voice notes, and email sign-offs throughout December, so learning to write it correctly matters as much as saying it.
The same phrase in other languages
Frequently asked
When do I say Feliz Navidad?
You can start saying 'Feliz Navidad' anytime after Thanksgiving in the US, or as soon as December begins. It's used throughout the Christmas season.
Is Feliz Navidad only for Christmas?
Primarily, yes, it's a Christmas greeting. For a broader holiday wish covering Christmas and New Year's, 'Felices Fiestas' is a good option.
How do I pronounce Navidad?
It's pronounced nah-vee-DAHD. The 'v' is soft, almost like a 'b', and the stress is on the last syllable.
How do you wish someone a merry Christmas in Spanish?
The most common way to wish someone a Merry Christmas in Spanish is 'Feliz Navidad'.
How do Mexicans say 'merry Christmas'?
Mexicans say 'Feliz Navidad' for Merry Christmas, just like in most other Spanish-speaking countries.
How do you respond to 'Feliz Navidad'?
You can respond with 'Feliz Navidad' back, or you can say 'Igualmente' which means 'Likewise'.
What is 'Merry Christmas and Happy New Year' in Spanish?
You can say 'Feliz Navidad y Próspero Año Nuevo'.
