Wishes
40th Birthday Wishes
Forty is one of the big ones. It's the age where people often take stock: of family, career, health, friendships and what they still want to do. Some turn 40 with a big party and a trip; others want a quiet dinner and no fuss about the number. Either way, a thoughtful 40th birthday message helps them feel celebrated rather than reminded of the clock.
On this page you'll find 40th birthday wishes for a friend or best friend, your wife or husband, family members, coworkers and your boss, plus funny "over the hill" lines (kept kind), inspirational messages and short texts.
After the list, there's a guide to choosing the right tone for 40, writing a personal card, and giving a toast at a 40th birthday party.
40th birthday wishes for a friend 9
Happy 40th! We've been friends through weddings, babies, job changes and at least one questionable tattoo. Here's to the next forty, with you right beside me.
They say life begins at forty. Judging by how much fun you already have, yours is about to get ridiculous. Happy birthday, friend.
Forty years of you, and the world is better for every one of them. Thanks for being the friend who always picks up the phone.
You're one of the few people I know who got better every decade. Happy 40th, and I can't wait to see what this one brings.
Happy 40th to the friend who still makes me laugh until I can't breathe. Some things don't age, and thank goodness for that.
Best friend, we met when we were kids pretending to be grown-ups. Now we're grown-ups pretending to know what we're doing. Happy 40th. I love you.
Happy 40th birthday. I've been trying to think of how to sum up what you mean to me, and I keep coming back to the little things: the soup you brought over when I was sick, the way you remember my kids' names and birthdays, the long walks where we solved the world's problems and then forgot the answers by dinner. Forty years have made you wise, steady and still completely yourself. I hope this decade gives back to you a little of everything you give to the people around you. You've earned it many times over.
Happy 40th! I'd tell you to act your age, but I've never seen you do that and I don't want to start worrying now.
Forty and still the first one on the dance floor. Never change. Happy birthday!
Funny 40th birthday wishes 9
Happy 40th! You're not over the hill. You're just high enough to enjoy the view.
Forty is when your knees start making sounds your parents' knees used to make. Welcome to the club.
Congratulations on turning 40! You've officially reached the age where reading glasses are an accessory.
Happy 40th! The good news is you're wiser than ever. The bad news is you forgot why you walked into this room.
Forty: when "going out" means the garden and "staying in" sounds amazing.
Happy 40th birthday! You now have the right to complain about the music kids listen to. Use it wisely.
At forty, you finally know what you want. Unfortunately, it's a nap.
Life begins at 40, apparently. Took its time, didn't it? Happy birthday!
Don't worry about turning 40. Worry about how many candles we'll need. We bought a fire extinguisher just in case.
For a wife or husband turning 40 6
Happy 40th, my love. You're more beautiful, more confident and more fun than the day I met you. I'd marry you all over again tomorrow.
Forty looks very good on you, honey. Thank you for every year we've had together. I can't wait for this next decade with you.
Happy 40th to my favorite person. We've grown up together, built a life together, and I'm excited to grow old together too. Slowly.
I've loved you in your twenties and thirties, and I already know I'll love you even more in your forties. Happy birthday.
Happy 40th, babe! Don't worry, I'll still love you when we both need our phones' flashlight to read the menu.
Happy 40th birthday to the heart of our home. The kids and I planned this day for weeks. All you have to do is enjoy it.
For family members turning 40 6
Happy 40th, sis. You've been my role model, my confidant and occasionally my unpaid therapist. Here's to your best decade yet.
Happy 40th, bro! Don't worry, you're still younger than you look. That came out wrong. Happy birthday!
My child is forty. I'm still adjusting. What I'm sure of is that you've become someone I'm deeply proud of. Happy birthday.
Happy 40th birthday from your kids! We know we didn't make the last few years easy, but we love you more than anything.
Happy 40th birthday! You bring so much joy to every family gathering. Here's to celebrating you today.
Happy 40th to the parent who taught us how to work hard, laugh loud and always make room at the table. We're so proud of you.
Inspirational 40th birthday wishes 7
Forty is the age when you finally stop caring what people think and start caring about what matters. Enjoy that freedom.
Here's to forty: wiser, braver and done with things that don't fit. May this be your boldest decade.
The first forty years were the rehearsal. Now the show really starts. Happy birthday.
Forty isn't the middle of the story. It's where the plot gets good. Happy 40th!
You've spent four decades becoming you. Now you get to enjoy the results.
May your forties bring peace with the past, joy in the present and excitement for what's next.
Happy 40th birthday! Thanking God for forty years of His faithfulness in your life, and praying for many more blessed years ahead.
When you can't celebrate in person 2
I hate missing your 40th. I'm toasting you from here tonight, and the minute I'm back in town, dinner is on me.
Too many miles between us for a hug today, so this card is carrying a big one. Happy 40th, and I'll see you soon.
40th birthday wishes for a coworker or boss 4
Happy 40th birthday from the whole team! Your experience and good humor make this a better place to work. Enjoy your milestone.
Congratulations on your 40th! It's a privilege to work alongside you. We hope your new decade is full of good things.
Happy 40th! The team decided you're now officially the office expert on everything. Sorry about that.
Wishing you a very happy 40th birthday. Thank you for your leadership and support. We hope this year is an excellent one for you.
Short 40th birthday messages 10
Happy 40th! Fabulous and forty looks great on you.
Forty and fantastic. Cheers to you!
Here's to 40 years of you being wonderful.
Welcome to forty. The view's better from here.
Happy 40th birthday! Your best years are just getting started.
Forty never looked so good. Happy birthday!
Cheers to the big 4-0 and everything ahead.
Happy 40th! Enjoy every minute of it.
40 today! Celebrate big, you've earned it.
Hello, forty! Happy birthday, friend.
The right tone for a 40th birthday
Forty jokes are everywhere, from "over the hill" decorations to reading-glasses gags. They can be a lot of fun, but they work best when the birthday person clearly enjoys them. A few guidelines:
- Funny is fine when the jokes are about shared experiences: naps, knees, early bedtimes, not knowing new slang.
- Skip the sensitive stuff: weight, wrinkles, gray hair for someone who minds it, or anything about "running out of time" for kids, marriage or career goals.
- Balance the joke with a sincere line. One laugh plus one real sentence about what they mean to you is the perfect 40th card.
If the person is going through something hard, such as a divorce, health issues or a job loss, choose a warm, encouraging message over humor about age.
What to write in a 40th birthday card
- Celebrate who they are now. Name a quality that's grown stronger with age: patience, humor, confidence, generosity.
- Mention something they've built. A family, a career, a friendship, a community, a garden.
- Look forward. Wish them something for their forties: adventure, rest, a dream they've talked about for years.
Worked examples
For a friend: "Happy 40th, Dana! In the twenty years I've known you, you've raised two great kids, started a business and never once missed my birthday. I hope your forties bring that trip to Italy you've been planning forever. Love you."
For a husband: "Happy 40th, Mike. You're the most patient dad and the best partner I could have asked for. I can't wait for the next forty years of road trips and backyard dinners together."
For a coworker: "Happy 40th, Raj! Your calm in a crisis is legendary around here. Hope your birthday is relaxing and your new decade is full of great things."
Surprise parties: a few tips
Forty is a popular age for a surprise party, but not everyone enjoys being surprised. If you're planning one, check quietly with their partner or closest friend first. Keep the guest list to people they'd actually want in the room, plan around their work and family schedule, and have a backup plan in case they make other arrangements. A card from every guest, collected at the door, gives them something to read the next morning when the noise has died down.
Giving a 40th birthday toast
Forty is a classic birthday for a speech at dinner or a party. Keep it to about two minutes:
- Start with who you are. "I'm Lisa, and I've had the privilege of being Tom's sister for thirty-seven years."
- Tell a story. One anecdote that shows their personality. Gentle teasing is fine; avoid anything that would embarrass them in front of their kids or colleagues.
- Say what you admire. One or two sentences about who they've become.
- Toast the next chapter. "To Tom, to forty, and to the best decade yet."
Ideas to make a 40th memorable
- Forty notes. Collect forty short messages from friends and family, one for each year.
- A decade-by-decade slideshow. Photos from each decade make a great backdrop at the party.
- A shared experience. A weekend away, a concert, a cooking class or a long-planned trip.
- A time capsule. Have guests write a note for the birthday person to open at 50.
When they don't want a fuss
Some people would rather let 40 pass quietly. Respect that. A heartfelt card, a small dinner with close family, or a sincere text can mean more than a surprise party they didn't ask for. You can still mark the milestone in a personal way without making the number the center of attention.
Birthday wishes: all parts
All birthday wishes
For a friend95 wishes
For a daughter70 wishes
For a sister70 wishes
Card messages83 wishes
For a coworker87 wishes
For a son70 wishes
For a niece70 wishes
Funny86 wishes
In heaven71 wishes
For a husband70 wishes
Belated80 wishes
For a daughter-in-law65 wishes
For a best friend75 wishes
Thank you for wishes70 wishes
For a granddaughter70 wishes
Religious74 wishes
For Mom75 wishes
For a nephew70 wishes
For a brother70 wishes
For a cousin60 wishes
For a wife70 wishes
Short82 wishes
For a boss66 wishes
For a sister-in-law60 wishes
Poems63 wishes
For a boyfriend65 wishes
For a grandson60 wishes
For a girlfriend65 wishes
For an aunt60 wishes
For Dad60 wishes
For an uncle60 wishes
For Grandma45 wishes
For a teacher47 wishes
1st birthday49 wishes
18th birthday49 wishes
21st birthday50 wishes
30th birthday53 wishes
50th birthday61 wishes
60th birthday57 wishes
70th birthday50 wishes
80th birthday50 wishes
90th birthday44 wishes
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Frequently asked questions
What do you write in a 40th birthday card?
Celebrate who they are now, mention something they've built (family, career, friendships), and wish them something specific for the decade ahead. A light joke plus one sincere line works for most people.
What are funny 40th birthday wishes?
Gentle jokes about naps, knees, reading glasses and early bedtimes work well: "You're not over the hill. You're just high enough to enjoy the view." Avoid jokes about weight, wrinkles or running out of time.
What is a nice 40th birthday message for a friend?
Try: "Forty years of you, and the world is better for every one of them. Thanks for being the friend who always picks up the phone." Add a shared memory to make it personal.
What should I write for my wife's 40th birthday?
Tell her what you love about her now, mention a memory from your years together, and look forward: "You're more beautiful and more fun than the day I met you. I'd marry you all over again."
What is a good quote for turning 40?
Many people use "Life begins at forty" or write their own, such as "The first forty years were the rehearsal. Now the show really starts."
How do you wish a coworker a happy 40th birthday?
Keep it friendly and professional: "Happy 40th from the whole team! Your experience and good humor make this a better place to work." Skip personal age jokes unless you know them well.