Mubarak is the all-purpose warm greeting, badhai means congratulations, and shubhkamnayein means best wishes. Use badhai for good news, shubhkamnayein for a wish about what's ahead, and mubarak when you want it friendly and easy. For Hindu festivals, badhai and shubhkamnayein are the usual pair, and Eid is the occasion mubarak belongs to.
Mubarak: warm and easy
Mubarak comes from Arabic and means blessed or auspicious. It has been part of Hindi and Urdu for a long time and works for almost anything: janamdin mubarak (happy birthday), shaadi mubarak (happy wedding), naya saal mubarak (happy new year). It's casual enough for a friend and polite enough for most people.
It's also the word in Eid Mubarak, the standard greeting for Eid.
Badhai: congratulations
Badhai is for something that has happened, such as an exam result, a promotion, a new job, a baby or a wedding. Shaadi ki badhai, naukri ki badhai, "badhai ho!" It carries a note of shared pride. It also turns up in festival greetings, such as "Diwali ki hardik badhai", often paired with shubhkamnayein as "badhai evam shubhkamnayein".
Shubhkamnayein: best wishes
Shubhkamnayein is built from Sanskrit-derived words, shubh (auspicious) and kamna (wish). It looks ahead: Diwali ki shubhkamnayein, nav varsh ki shubhkamnayein, aapke naye safar ke liye shubhkamnayein. It's the formal choice and the one that fits a card, a letter or a message to a senior. "Hardik shubhkamnayein" (heartfelt best wishes) is the usual full form.
Which one for which occasion
- Birthday. Janamdin mubarak for most people. Janamdin ki hardik shubhkamnayein for someone senior or a formal card. Janamdin ki badhai also works, especially for family.
- Wedding. Shaadi mubarak, or shaadi ki badhai. Vivah ki shubhkamnayein for a card.
- Exam result, promotion, new job. Badhai. These are things the person has done.
- Hindu festivals. Shubhkamnayein, or badhai, or both together: "badhai evam shubhkamnayein". Hardik makes either warmer.
- Eid. Eid Mubarak. It's the set greeting.
- New year. Naya saal mubarak for friends, nav varsh ki shubhkamnayein for a card.
- A new journey, a move, a fresh start. Shubhkamnayein. The wish is about what comes next.
Can you use two?
Yes. "Janamdin mubarak, aur dher saari shubhkamnayein" (happy birthday, and lots of good wishes) is common and sounds warm. It's a way to be friendly and formal at once.
A rule of thumb
If you're unsure, mubarak is safe with almost anyone. If the occasion is an achievement, say badhai. If the card is formal, use shubhkamnayein.
Where to go from here
- Birthday wishes in Hindi for the birthday case
- Love messages in Hindi for love and romance
- Diwali wishes for a festival