How to Ask Someone When Their Birthday Is

Do you want to know more about a new friend and find out when their birthday is? Or maybe you’ve simply forgotten someone’s birthday.

You’ve come to the right place if you want a simple question to ask. This article has gathered the best questions to show you how to ask someone about their birthday.

• When is your birthday?
• I would like to know when your birthday is
• I’m finding out everyone’s birthday to start arranging gifts
• When were you born?
• Your birthday is in [month], right?
• I don’t think I know when your birthday is
• Are you doing anything nice for your birthday this year?
• I think we have similar birthdays
• Have you got your birthday off work?

Read on to learn how to ask someone about their birthday. We have also provided examples for each one.

1. When Is Your Birthday?

There’s nothing wrong with asking when someone’s birthday is. And since it’s not a problematic question, why not start with the simple “when is your birthday?” You can’t go wrong with it.

You shouldn’t try to overcomplicate things when learning how to ask someone about their birthday. Most people will happily share their birth date if you ask them. Just ask.

Here are a few examples to help you understand it:

• So, when is your birthday? I’d like to get to know you better, and this is a great way to do so.
• When is your birthday again? I’m not sure if you’ve already told me about this. I’d like to know, though.

2. I Would Like to Know When Your Birthday Is

Another direct and simple option is to say “I would like to know when your birthday is.” It works well when you’ve only just met someone and want to find out more about them.

Of course, something like this won’t work well with close friends. Most of the time, you should already know when your friends’ birthdays are (otherwise, they wouldn’t be “close” friends).

So, save this for new acquaintances or colleagues. It’s a great way to find out about someone’s birthday.

Here are a few examples to help you understand more about it:

• I would like to know when your birthday is. Then, I can tell the rest of the team, and we can arrange a party.
• I would like to know when your birthday is. I suppose it’s because I want to be friends with you.

3. I’m Finding Out Everyone’s Birthday to Start Arranging Gifts

If you want to know how to ask someone when their birthday is when you forgot, try this phrase. It’s a subtle way to discover someone’s birthday by pretending it’s for a greater purpose.

You can still use it when you want to know someone’s birthday. The other party doesn’t have to know that you’re only asking them because you want to know their birthday. Pretending it’s part of a collective celebration at work is smart.

You should also refer to the following examples:

• I’m finding out everyone’s birthday to start arranging gifts in the office. So, I’d love to know when yours is.
• I’m finding out everyone’s birthday to start arranging gifts. I haven’t got your name down yet.

4. When Were You Born?

Another simple question that works well is “when were you born?” Again, we’re not looking for anything over the top or complicated here. Stick to the basics to ensure you get an appropriate answer.

After all, there’s nothing wrong with asking someone when their birthday is. It’s a friendly question that shows you want to learn more about someone.

Perhaps these examples will also help you:

• When were you born, Mary? I think we have birthdays in the same month! Wouldn’t that be interesting?
• Sorry to ask, but when were you born? I’d love to know more about you since we’ll be around each other a lot more now.

5. Your Birthday Is in [Month], Right?

If you want to know how to trick someone into telling you their birthday, try “your birthday is in [month], right?” It’s an effective question that results in the person revealing their birthday.

So, you might say:

• Your birthday is in June, right?

Your friend has two options.

Firstly, if their birthday is in June, they can confirm their birthday. They may also add a date by responding “yes, June 1st.”

Secondly, they might deny that month is correct for their birthday. However, they would usually answer with something like “it’s actually in August,” which still allows you to find out when their birthday is.

Here are a few examples to demonstrate how it works:

• Your birthday is in March, right? I think I read that in your file somewhere, but I could be completely wrong.
• Your birthday is in September, right? Mine is also in September, so it would be funny if that’s the case!

6. I Don’t Think I Know When Your Birthday Is

“I don’t think I know when your birthday is” is a great example of how to find out someone’s birthday without asking them. After all, it is not a question. Instead, it gets the other person to reveal their birthday.

Of course, this only works if someone is happy to share their birthday with you. However, it’s quite common for people to want to talk about their birthday, so don’t be surprised if they share it with you.

You should refer to the following examples:

• I don’t think I know when your birthday is. Maybe you’ve told me already, but I’ve certainly forgotten.
• I don’t think I know when your birthday is. Do you mind telling me to jog my memory?

7. Are You Doing Anything Nice for Your Birthday This Year?

You can ask “are you doing anything nice for your birthday this year?” and hope that someone answers when their birthday is.

However, this is quite a subtle question, and it might not get the desired result.

If someone is willing to talk about their birthday, they might tell you when it is. Though, if they’re going to keep it a secret, they might not tell you anything they’re doing for their birthday (regardless of whether it’s coming up soon).

Also, these examples should help you understand it better:

• Are you doing anything nice for your birthday this year? I think it’s coming up soon, and I’m curious!
• Are you doing anything nice for your birthday this year, then? You deserve to make the most of the day.

8. I Think We Have Similar Birthdays

So, you want to know how to ask someone about their birthday without them knowing. Well, you can always try “I think we have similar birthdays.”

It isn’t a direct question, making it a good way to find out a birthday without making it obvious.

If you’re worried that someone might not want to share their birthday with you, this is a good option.

Instead of directly asking them, you can make a connection with them. Suggesting that you have similar birthdays (even if you don’t) allows you to build a friendship with someone, which might encourage them to share more openly with you.

Check out these examples if you’re still unsure:

• Maybe I’m wrong about this, but I think we have similar birthdays! Wouldn’t it be funny if that were true?
• I think we have similar birthdays. I’m sure I saw that you were only a few days older than me online.

9. Have You Got Your Birthday Off Work?

“Have you got your birthday off work?” is another subtle question that works well. You can ask it to figure out when someone’s birthday is based on their response.

If they say “yes,” they might explain their plans. You can then ask when their birthday is or try to figure it out based on their plans.

If they say “no,” it means their birthday isn’t anytime soon, or they don’t care about it. Either way, you might not find out when their birthday is (and you might not want to press any further).

Check out these examples to show you how to use it:

• Have you got your birthday off work? If so, I’d like to know whether you’ve got any plans around then.
• Have you got your birthday off work yet? I know you were having difficulty with it because other people booked it off.

Is It Rude to Ask Someone When Their Birthday Is?

It is not rude to ask someone when their birthday is. In fact, it’s quite a common question when you’re first getting to know people.

Generally, it is not a weird question. It’s not something you should just know about someone without asking them first. After all, knowing someone’s birthday before they tell you might appear a bit creepy.

Of course, you could always check their social media or ask someone else who knows their birthday.

However, since there is nothing wrong with just asking someone when their birthday is, we recommend going down this route in most situations.

Martin holds a Master’s degree in Finance and International Business. He has six years of experience in professional communication with clients, executives, and colleagues. Furthermore, he has teaching experience from Aarhus University. Martin has been featured as an expert in communication and teaching on Forbes and Shopify. Read more about Martin here.