Három dolog, amit ne csinálj születésnapon

What does “születésnap” mean in Hungarian, and what is a “névnap”?

This comedy skit is about birthday mishaps, and the word at its centre is születésnap, “birthday.” It’s a transparent compound: születés (birth) plus nap (day). To wish someone well you say Boldog születésnapot! (“Happy Birthday!”), and notice the -t tacked onto the end, the accusative case that Hungarian adds even to a greeting.

Here’s the cultural twist worth knowing: Hungarians celebrate not only the születésnap but also the névnap, your “name day,” the calendar day attached to your first name. Many people get flowers, cake, and good wishes on both. So in Hungary you effectively get two birthdays a year.