happy new year

/ˌhæpi njuː ˈjɪər/

"Happy new year" is the universal English greeting exchanged around the turn of the year, from New Year's Eve through the first days of January. Its German counterparts vary slightly depending on context and regional tradition.

1. Frohes neues Jahr!

The most universal and stylistically neutral translation, equally at home in written messages and spoken greetings.

Everyone hugged and wished each other a happy new year as the fireworks lit up the sky.
Alle lagen sich in den Armen und wünschten sich ein frohes neues Jahr, während das Feuerwerk den Himmel erhellte.
I always call my parents at midnight just to say happy new year.
Ich rufe meine Eltern immer um Mitternacht an, um ihnen frohes neues Jahr zu wünschen.
She signed every card with a simple 'Happy New Year and all the best for the months ahead'.
Sie unterschrieb jede Karte mit einem schlichten 'Frohes neues Jahr und alles Gute für die kommenden Monate'.

2. Gutes neues Jahr!

Equally widespread and fully interchangeable with 'Frohes neues Jahr'; feels somewhat more casual and is especially common in spoken language.

After the countdown, the whole office shouted happy new year.
Nach dem Countdown rief das ganze Büro gutes neues Jahr.
Happy new year to all the readers of this newsletter!
Gutes neues Jahr an alle Leserinnen und Leser dieses Newsletters!

3. Prosit Neujahr! [informal] · regional, festive toast

Predominantly Southern German and Austrian; used specifically as a toast when clinking glasses at midnight. Not a general-purpose greeting for cards or messages.

They raised their champagne flutes, clinked them together, and called out happy new year.
Sie hoben ihre Sektgläser, stießen an und riefen Prosit Neujahr!
The host led the midnight toast with a joyful happy new year as the guests cheered.
Die Gastgeberin führte den Mitternachtstrinkspruch mit einem fröhlichen Prosit Neujahr an, während die Gäste jubelten.

Notes

On greeting cards you often see 'Frohes Neues Jahr' with a capital N. Grammatically it is an exception (attributive adjectives stay lowercase in German), but it is widely accepted as a festive stylistic convention. 'Prosit Neujahr' is not a full substitute for the everyday greeting; it belongs specifically to the act of toasting and carries a distinctly Bavarian and Austrian flavour.

Synonyms

happy new year's

Related phrases

New Year's Eve New Year's Day countdown resolution Merry Christmas seasons greetings toast celebration