How to Write Congratulations in Russian for Any Occasion
To write congratulations in Russian, use “Pozdravlyayu!” for “Congratulations!” from one person, or “Pozdravlyaem!” when the message comes from several people. Add the occasion, such as “S dnyom rozhdeniya!” for “Happy birthday!”, followed by a personal wish. The Russian phrases below use Latin letters throughout, so you can read, copy and pronounce them without a Cyrillic keyboard.
For a flower card, the useful starting point is the relationship: a message for your mother needs a different tone from one for a colleague. At Pyat Tsvetov (5 Flowers), our Saint Petersburg flower shops have been working since 2011, and a card with your text is free with your flower order. This guide helps you choose the wording, check who is speaking and decide whether to sign your name.
Start with Pozdravlyayu and name the occasion
“Pozdravlyayu” means “I congratulate you” and works as a complete congratulatory message when the occasion is already clear. “Pozdravlyaem” means “We congratulate you”, so use it for a couple, family or team sending flowers together. Match the opening to the people signing the card. A bouquet from two siblings should normally carry “Pozdravlyaem”, even if only one sibling places the order.
Russian often expresses congratulations with “s” followed by the occasion in a particular grammatical form. Useful ready-made phrases include “S dnyom rozhdeniya!” for a birthday, “So svadboy!” for a wedding and “S yubileem!” for a milestone birthday or anniversary. Copy the complete phrase rather than substituting a dictionary word after “s”. For more detail about the opening verb, see our guide to the meaning of Pozdravlyayu.
These examples are practical transliterations, and you may see other spellings of the same Russian sounds. For example, “dnyom” may appear as “dnem”, while “schastya” is sometimes written with an apostrophe. Keep one spelling style throughout your card so the message looks consistent. Transliteration helps you write the words in Latin letters, but it is not a precise pronunciation guide.
Choose a personal or respectful form of address
Use “tebya” when addressing one person with whom you use the familiar form: “Pozdravlyayu tebya!” means “Congratulations to you!” in a personal tone. Use “vas” for a respectful address to one person or when addressing several people. “Pozdravlyayu vas!” can therefore suit a formal recipient or a couple. If you are unsure about the relationship, leave out the pronoun and simply write “Pozdravlyayu!”
An opening with a name usually feels more personal than a long formal introduction. “Anna, s dnyom rozhdeniya!” is a straightforward birthday greeting that does not require you to choose an affectionate adjective. Use the name the recipient normally uses with you, especially if they have several nicknames. Avoid borrowing an intimate pet name from a phrase list unless you already know it is welcome.
When addressing a person, “Dorogaya” is the feminine form of “dear”, and “Dorogoy” is the masculine form. “Dorogaya Anna” can suit a warm personal message, while a colleague may be better addressed by name alone. For an established formal relationship, retain the recipient's usual name and patronymic if you know them. Do not invent a patronymic from a surname or guess which form the recipient prefers.
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Use birthday wishes that sound warm and natural
For a birthday, start with “S dnyom rozhdeniya!” and add a wish that suits the recipient. “Zhelayu tebe schastya i zdorovya!” means “I wish you happiness and good health!” in the familiar form. A complete short card could read: “Anna, s dnyom rozhdeniya! Zhelayu tebe schastya i zdorovya! S lyubovyu, Alex.” The closing “S lyubovyu” means “With love”, so reserve it for someone close.
For a more respectful birthday message, use “Pozdravlyayu vas s dnyom rozhdeniya! Zhelayu vam zdorovya i blagopoluchiya!” This means “Happy birthday! I wish you good health and well-being!” The pairing matters: familiar “tebya” goes with “tebe”, while respectful or plural “vas” goes with “vam”. Keeping those forms consistent makes a short message feel more considered.
A wish connected to the person's life can be more meaningful than a string of general blessings. “Zhelayu vdokhnoveniya i novykh otkrytiy!” means “Wishing you inspiration and new discoveries!” and can suit someone who enjoys creative work or learning. Avoid references to marriage, children or age unless you know the recipient would appreciate them. For a milestone birthday, “S yubileem!” is useful, but the usual birthday greeting is also appropriate.
Adapt the wording for weddings, achievements and holidays
For newlyweds, address both people and keep the wish about their shared life. “Pozdravlyaem so svadboy! Zhelaem vam schastya i lyubvi!” means “Congratulations on your wedding! We wish you happiness and love!” If you are sending the bouquet alone, change “Pozdravlyaem” to “Pozdravlyayu” and “Zhelaem” to “Zhelayu”. Keep “vam”, because you are still addressing two recipients.
For a promotion, “Pozdravlyayu s povysheniem!” means “Congratulations on your promotion!” Follow it with “Zhelayu uspekhov!” for “Wishing you success!” For graduation, “Pozdravlyayu s okonchaniem universiteta!” means “Congratulations on graduating from university!” Name the achievement accurately; a general “Pozdravlyayu s uspekhom!” means “Congratulations on your success!” when a broader phrase fits better.
Russian uses congratulatory greetings for calendar holidays where English speakers might simply say “Happy”. “S Novym godom!” means “Happy New Year!”, and “S Vosmym marta!” means “Happy International Women's Day!” Choose the greeting that matches the recipient's occasion and customs. Flowers sent as thanks or support need different wording: “Spasibo!” means “Thank you!”, while congratulations would give the wrong message.
Turn the greeting into a thoughtful flower card
Build the card in four parts: the recipient's name, the occasion, one sincere wish and your signature. Two or three short lines are usually enough to make each part clear. For example: “Mama, s dnyom rozhdeniya! Zhelayu tebe zdorovya i radosti! S lyubovyu, Kate.” This means “Mum, happy birthday! Wishing you health and joy! With love, Kate.”
A restrained message can be warmer than an elaborate translated poem, particularly if Russian is not your usual shared language. Add a personal sentence in English if the recipient understands it and it expresses something you cannot confidently say in Russian. Check names and the occasion before submitting the text, and retain line breaks where they help reading. Our flower greeting card guide offers more advice on matching the card to the relationship.
Consider the bouquet's etiquette as well as its message. In Russian tradition, celebration bouquets generally contain an odd number of stems; even numbers are associated with mourning, especially in small bouquets where stems are easily counted. Colour meanings vary between people, so the recipient's known preferences are a better guide than a rigid symbolism chart. A clear card can explain whether your flowers celebrate friendship, family affection or romance.
Send your congratulations with flowers to Russia
Choose a bouquet from our bouquets catalogue and provide the delivery details and your card text when ordering. We deliver flowers across Russia, and city delivery costs 500 RUB. For remote districts and suburbs, the operator confirms the delivery price when confirming the order. Online checkout uses CloudPayments; check the payment options displayed there, as acceptance of every foreign card is not guaranteed.
Plan delivery around the recipient's local time and availability. In large cities, express delivery is available in 1–2 hours after the order is confirmed; other options include an exact time within plus or minus 30 minutes, or windows of 09–12, 12–15, 15–18 and 18–21. Orders can also be placed 1–30 days ahead, and delivery in Saint Petersburg is available around the clock. See delivery and payment information when planning your order.
Delivery is anonymous by default: the courier does not name the sender, so sign the card if you want the recipient to recognise your congratulations. The courier calls the recipient about 15 minutes before arrival, which is worth considering when planning a surprise. If the recipient is absent, we agree a second delivery that day or, with the sender's consent, hand the flowers to a neighbour or concierge. For questions about your order, call 8 (812) 507-67-05.
Frequently asked questions
What is the simplest way to write congratulations in Russian?
Write “Pozdravlyayu!” when the message comes from you alone, or “Pozdravlyaem!” when it comes from several people. Add the occasion if it is not already obvious.
How do I write happy birthday in Russian using English letters?
Write “S dnyom rozhdeniya!” This is the standard birthday greeting, and you can follow it with “Zhelayu tebe schastya!” meaning “I wish you happiness!” for someone you address informally.
Should I use tebya or vas in a congratulatory message?
Use “tebya” for one person you address familiarly and “vas” for a respectful address or several people. If you are uncertain, “Pozdravlyayu!” works without either pronoun.
Can I put a transliterated Russian message on the flower card?
Yes, you can provide your card text in Latin-letter transliteration, as in the examples above. A card with your text is free; check the spelling and sign your name if you want the recipient to know who sent it.
Will the courier tell the recipient who sent the flowers?
Delivery is anonymous by default, and the courier does not name the sender. Include your name in the card text if you want your congratulations to be clearly identified.
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