In English, we use birthday and anniversary to talk about special dates (aniversário), but they are used in different contexts. Let’s explore the difference:

Birthday 🎂

• Birthday refers to the annual celebration of the day a person was born (birth significa “nascimento” e day significa “dia”).
• We use birthday to talk about people’s personal special days.

Example:

• My birthday is on December 8th.
• She is planning a big party for her birthday.

Anniversary 💍

• Anniversary refers to the celebration of a special event or occasion that happens once a year, such as the date of a wedding, an important historical event, or the founding of a company (aniversário de casamento, aniversário da cidade, ou a data da fundação de alguma empresa ou instituição).
• We use anniversary for significant dates in relationships, businesses, or history.

Example:

• Today is our wedding anniversary!
• The company is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.

Death Anniversary 🕊️

• Death anniversary refers to the annual remembrance of the date when someone passed away.
• This term is commonly used in cultures where people honor and remember loved ones on the day they passed.

Examples:

• We lit candles on my grandfather’s death anniversary.
• His fans held a memorial on the death anniversary of the famous singer.

Key Differences:

1. Birthday is always related to someone’s birth.
2. Anniversary can be used for many types of celebrations, including weddings, company formations, or historical events.
3. Death anniversary is used when remembering the passing of someone.

Exercises:

1. Choose the correct word (birthday, anniversary, or death anniversary):

1. I can’t believe it’s been 10 years since our wedding ____.
2. We’re having a big party to celebrate my son’s ____ this year.
3. The country will celebrate its independence ____ next week.
4. My parents’ ____ is next month, and they are going on a trip.
5. Today is the ____ of our grandfather’s passing, and we are gathering to remember him.
6. Happy ____ to you! I hope you have a wonderful day!

2. Fill in the blanks with your own sentences:

• My ____ is on __________.
• This year, I will celebrate my ____ with __________.
• The ____ of our company is __________.
• We remember my grandfather’s ____ by __________.

3. Write a short paragraph using birthday, anniversary, and death anniversary.

Answers:

1. Choose the correct word (birthday, anniversary, or death anniversary):

1. anniversary
2. birthday
3. anniversary
4. anniversary
5. death anniversary
6. birthday