Understanding the Structure of Dates in French
French dates follow a specific order: day + month + year. This format is different from the month-day-year order commonly used in the United States. For example, July 14, 2024, is written and said as le 14 juillet 2024 in French.
How to Say the Days
Days of the month in French are expressed using cardinal numbers, except for the first day of the month.
- 1st: le premier (the first)
- 2nd, 3rd, 4th, etc.: le deux, le trois, le quatre, etc.
For example:
Le 1er janvier (January 1st)
Le 2 février (February 2nd)
How to Say the Months
The months in French are not capitalized unless they start a sentence. Here are the months:
- janvier (January)
- février (February)
- mars (March)
- avril (April)
- mai (May)
- juin (June)
- juillet (July)
- août (August)
- septembre (September)
- octobre (October)
- novembre (November)
- décembre (December)
How to Say the Year
Years are generally said as full numbers. For example:
- 2024: deux mille vingt-quatre
- 1999: mille neuf cent quatre-vingt-dix-neuf
Putting It All Together: Complete Date Examples
- March 3, 2022: le 3 mars 2022
- August 15, 2020: le 15 août 2020
- December 1, 2010: le 1er décembre 2010
How to Ask for the Date in French
If you want to ask someone what the date is, you can say:
- Quelle est la date aujourd’hui ? (What is the date today?)
- Nous sommes le combien ? (What’s the date?)
A typical answer would be: Nous sommes le 18 juin 2024.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Mixing up the order: Remember, it’s always day + month + year in French.
- Capitalizing months: Months are not capitalized in French unless at the beginning of a sentence.
- Using ordinal numbers incorrectly: Only the first day of the month uses premier. All other days use cardinal numbers.
Tips for Practicing Dates in French
- Write your daily schedule using French dates.
- Read French newspapers or websites like Talkpal to see dates in context.
- Practice saying your birthday, important holidays, and historical events in French.
Conclusion
Saying the date correctly in French is a fundamental part of everyday conversation. By following the simple structure and practicing with real-life examples, you’ll quickly become comfortable with this essential language skill. For more tips and interactive exercises, visit Talkpal’s AI language learning blog and continue your journey towards French fluency!
