Breakdown of Я хочу поздравить друга с днём рождения.
друг
the friend
я
I
с
with
день
the day
хотеть
to want
поздравить
to congratulate
рождение
the birth
Elon.io is an online learning platform
We have an entire course teaching Russian grammar and vocabulary.
Questions & Answers about Я хочу поздравить друга с днём рождения.
What case is the word друга, and why isn’t it друг?
друга is Accusative singular of друг (animate masculine). The verb поздравить takes a direct object (“congratulate whom?” → Accusative). For animate masculine nouns, Accusative = Genitive form, hence друга.
What cases are used in с днём рождения?
- днём is Instrumental singular of день, required by the preposition с in this meaning.
- рождения is Genitive singular of рождение inside the noun phrase день рождения (“day of birth”). When the head (день) goes to Instrumental (днём), the dependent (рождения) stays Genitive: днём рождения.
Why use с here—does it mean “with”?
With поздравить/поздравлять, the fixed pattern is поздравить кого с чем = “congratulate someone on something.” Here с marks the occasion, not accompaniment.
Why is it днём with ё? Can I write с днем рождения?
Yes. In print, ё is often written as е, so с днем рождения is common. It is still pronounced [dnyom]. Using днём makes the stress and sound explicit.
Why perfective поздравить instead of imperfective поздравлять?
You intend one complete act. With verbs of desire, the perfective infinitive expresses a single finished action: хочу поздравить. Хочу поздравлять suggests a habitual or ongoing activity, which is odd here.
Could I say Я поздравлю друга с днём рождения?
Yes. Поздравлю (perfective future) states a plan/decision. Хочу поздравить expresses desire/intention. Я поздравляю… is used when you are actually congratulating right now (e.g., in a speech or message).
Do I need a possessive—why not моего друга?
Russian often omits possessives when the owner is obvious (family, body parts, close relations). друга already implies “my friend” from context. Add моего for clarity or contrast: …моего друга, а не коллегу.
How do I say it if the friend is female?
Use подруга. Accusative singular: подругу. Example: Я хочу поздравить подругу с днём рождения.
Why not Dative другу?
The verb pattern is поздравить кого? (Accusative) с чем? (Instrumental). Dative is used with the noun поздравления: поздравления другу (“greetings to a friend”), but not with the verb.
Can I drop the subject я?
Yes. The verb ending shows the person, so Хочу поздравить друга с днём рождения is natural.
Can I move the parts around?
Yes, to shift emphasis:
- Друга хочу поздравить с днём рождения. (focus on друга)
- Хочу поздравить с днём рождения друга. (neutral)
- С днём рождения хочу поздравить друга. (formal/speech-like) All are grammatical.
How do I actually say “Happy birthday” to someone?
Say: С днём рождения! You can add the person:
- С днём рождения, Маша!
- Поздравляю тебя/вас с днём рождения!
What other occasions use the same pattern?
Use поздравить кого с чем:
- с победой (on your victory)
- с юбилеем (on your anniversary/milestone)
- с Новым годом (Happy New Year)
- с успешной сдачей экзамена (on passing the exam)
Are there articles (“a/my”) in Russian?
No. друга can mean “a friend” or “my friend,” decided by context. Add a possessive (моего друга) only if needed.
Should it be с or со before днём?
Use с: с днём рождения. со appears before certain hard clusters (e.g., со мной, со вторника, со дня рождения), but not here.
Any pronunciation tips for this sentence?
- Я хочу: stress on the last syllable [kha-CHU]; х is a harsh [kh], not English h.
- поздравить: stress on -дра́- (поздрАвить); pronounce the cluster здр smoothly.
- днём: [dnyom], stress on ё.
- рождения: stress on -де- (рожде́ния).
Does днём ever mean “in the afternoon”?
By itself, yes, днём can mean “in/at daytime.” In the fixed phrase с днём рождения, it clearly means “on (the) birthday,” so no ambiguity.
How would I mention the friend by name?
Use Accusative for the name:
- Я хочу поздравить Машу/Игоря с днём рождения. Feminine -а → -у (Маша → Машу); many masculine names change (Игорь → Игоря).
Is с его днём рождения necessary?
Usually no. с днём рождения already implies the person’s own birthday. Add a possessive only for contrast or exceptional clarity.
Are there informal alternatives?
Colloquial:
- С днюхой! (very informal)
- С днём варенья! (playful) Use with friends; avoid in formal situations.