Happy belated birthday.

or

Belated happy birthday.

 

happy belated birthday.

 

I'm no grammer expert but if the second term were to be used in a properly constructed sentence it would be the correct use of the word 'belated' IMO.

The first implies that the person's actual birthday was belated (an impossibility) instead of the greetings.

 

The first makes no sense to me, though it is what people always use.

 

happy birthday!!! sorry im late! hahah thats what i use

 

if someone's birthday has already passed then you should say, "happy belated birthday", but if you were late to the party you could technically get away with "belated happy birthday"...i think

 

Muz makes a good point, but "happy belated birthday" is the most commonly used form of the phrase, so I would go with that one.

 

Most commonly used doesn't necessarily make it correct.

I'll argue for the second. As Muz pointed out, the birthday is not belated, just the wishes.

Where are all the English teachers...? Weigh in already!

 

Inasmuch as we're comparing only two phrases, "Happy belated birthday" is, at best, the more commonly used form.

Oh, and "Belated happy birthday" is correct grammatically; "Happy belated birthday" is not.

 

I've never heard anyone say "Happy belated birthday" before. "A belated happy birthday" is the only version I've ever seen or heard, and as magician pointed out, it's the only grammatically correct version.