happy belated birthday
Tardy natal greeting
Happy belated birthday is a greeting offered when you've missed someone's actual birthday.
The belated modifies the wishes, not the birthday itself—the birthday happened on time; your acknowledgment is late.
Happy belated birthday! I can't believe I missed it.
Often appears in cards or messages a day or week after the fact.
- greetingsExpressions upon meeting
- congratulationPraise for accomplishment
- tardyArriving past due
- celebrationFestive event marking occasion
- overduePast expected arrival
special day · my bad · card · make a wish · felicitations · cheerfulness · well-wishing · delayed · forgetful · lost track of time · candles · better late than never · cake · postponed · hooray · balloons · sorry · gifts