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As the year wraps up, it’s easy for some people to feel overwhelmed. So be sure to take a moment to pause and spread a bit of kindness. A simple “Happy New Year” message can brighten someone’s day.
Whether you’re reaching out to a friend, a business partner, or even a client, this gesture can help you start the new year with stronger connections and a positive outlook.
And if their native language isn’t English, why not greet them in their language? It’s a thoughtful gesture that can go a long way.
In this blog, we’ll show you how to say “Happy New Year” in different languages, while also exploring how translation and localization can help strengthen your global business relationships in the year ahead.
How a Localized “Happy New Year” Can Benefit Your Business
- Building Stronger Relationships
Wishing your international clients or business partners a happy new year in their native language is a simple yet meaningful gesture that helps build rapport and strengthen relationships.
It shows respect for their language and culture, and the effort you put into sending a personalized message won’t go unnoticed.
- Better Marketing Campaigns
Localization also boosts your marketing efforts. Speaking your target audience’s language and understanding their culture makes your campaigns more relatable.
Take for example YSL’s brilliant New Year campaign in China. In Chinese culture, the color red is associated with energy, celebration, and prosperity.
For the campaign, YSL kept it simple: they made red the central theme, incorporated Chinese ornaments typically seen during New Year celebrations, and used Chinese translation to connect directly with their target audience.
By incorporating these cultural elements, your campaign becomes more engaging and resonates better with your customers.
Happy New Year Translations
European Languages
French: Bonne Année
The French celebrate the new year by what they call the Réveillon feast, where friends and family come together to have French delicacies like oysters and foie gras.
Spanish: ¡Feliz Año Nuevo!
Eating 12 grapes on New Year’s Eve is a tradition in Spain believed to bring good fortune, with each grape representing a month of the coming year.
The Spanish language is rich and its speakers are spread out throughout the world, from Latin America to Spain. So make sure you use professional Spanish translation services that consider the diverse cultural backgrounds of Spanish speakers.
Greek: Ευτυχισμένο το νέο έτος (Eftikhisméno to néo étos)
The Greeks believe that onions symbolize growth and rebirth, so during New Year’s, they hang onions on their doors to promote growth.
They also smash pomegranates on their doors just after the clock hits 12 on New Year’s Eve because it’s a symbol of fertility and life.
German: Frohes neues Jahr
Germany has an interesting New Year tradition of melting a piece of lead and pouring it into cold water, and the shape the lead takes is believed to reveal a person’s fate (similar to fortune telling through coffee cup readings).
Dutch: Gelukkig Nieuwjaar
If you visit the Netherlands during New Year’s, you’ll have to try oliebollen, a dutch dessert similar to donuts traditionally eaten on New Year’s Eve.
Danish: Godt nytår
In Denmark, they love smashing plates, and who doesn’t like some healthy anger release?
It’s a tradition in Denmark to throw china at your neighbors’ or friends’ doorsteps as a means of leaving any bad feelings behind before the new year.
Swedish: Gott nytt år
Norwegian: Godt nytt år
Russian: С Новым Годом! (S Novym Godom!)
Polish: Szczęśliwego nowego roku
Portuguese: Feliz Ano Novo
Italian: Buon anno
Asian Languages
Chinese: 新年快乐 (Xīn nián kuài lè)
In China, New Year is celebrated between January 21st and February 20, according to the Chinese lunar calendar. The celebration lasts for days, and it consists of dragon dances, red lanterns, and people giving out money in red envelopes for good luck.
Other Asian countries celebrate the Chinese new year, like Korea, Indonesia, and Thailand.
Korean: 새해 복 많이 받으세요 (Saehae bog manh i bad euseyo)
Japanese: 明けましておめでとう! (Akemashite omedetō)
Indonesian: Selamat Tahun Baru
Hindi: नव वर्ष की शुभकामनाएँ (Nav varsh)
Middle Eastern Languages
Arabic: !عام سعيد
In Middle Eastern countries, New Year’s celebrations usually involve fireworks and good food. Dubai is known for its extravagant fireworks show at Burj Khalifa on New Year’s Eve.
And as a global business hub with a large expat community, understanding the languages spoken in Dubai is key to successfully navigating its market.
Farsi/Persian: سال نو مبارک (Sale no mobarak)
The Iranian New Year is called Nowruz, which translates to “new day,” and is celebrated on the first day of Spring in March. Nowruz celebrations include feasts, giving children presents, and preparing the haft-seen table (a table of 7 things that start with the letter S).
Turkish: Mutlu yıllar (mut-lu yee-lar)
Happy New Year in Different Languages: The Power of Localization for Businesses
- Considering Cultural Nuances
A direct translation of “Happy New Year” isn’t always enough. For instance, in Chinese, there’s a formal way to say it, “新年快乐,” and an informal one, “新年好.”
Localization means choosing the right version for the right context. For a marketing campaign targeting young people in China, the informal “新年好” would be more appropriate.
- Making Your Website Feel Local
Website localization adapts your site to provide a familiar, “local” experience for your audience. This goes beyond just translating text; it involves adjusting visuals, layout, and the overall user experience of the website.
- Adapting Multimedia
It’s equally important to localize multimedia content, like videos and audio, for your international audience. This ensures consistency with your translated text and creates a cohesive experience.
New Year’s Resolutions for Global Businesses: Embracing Localization
Here are key resolutions to make in the coming year to drive global success for your business.
- Invest in Professional Translation
Avoid relying on cheap automated translations. Partnering with a professional translation services company ensures that your projects are accurately translated and fully localized to help you succeed in international markets.
- Plan Your Localized Campaigns Ahead
As you plan your marketing campaigns for the year, remember to factor in localized versions, especially for holidays like New Year’s or other key events.
For example, if your target market is the Middle East, consider localizing campaigns for Ramadan with the help of professional Arabic translation services. This will ensure that you maximize your brand’s reach.
- Learn about International Markets
When expanding into new markets, take the time to learn about local cultures and customs. This can be much easier if you hire on-ground cultural experts and work with native speakers.
This way, your brand gains credibility and you avoid any marketing blunders that might hurt your brand image.
If you like the idea of wishing people a happy new year in different languages and you’re curious to learn more, we recommend you check our blog post on how to say “mom” in different languages; this way, you’ll be prepared for your localized campaigns for Mother’s Day!
bayantech Supports All Languages
With bayantech, you can localize your New Year’s marketing campaigns—or any other content—professionally and efficiently.
Our team of expert linguists ensures high-quality translation and localization, while our dedicated project managers support you every step of the way to meet your specific needs.
Get a free instant quote and start your project today!
