How Dates Are Formatted in German
Unlike in English, where the month usually comes before the day, the German convention places the day first, followed by the month, and then the year. This format is known as day.month.year. For example:
- 15.06.2024 (15th June 2024)
- 03.10.1990 (3rd October 1990)
Notice the use of a period (.) as a separator, rather than a slash or dash. This small detail is vital for writing the date in a way that native speakers expect.
Writing the Date in Full: Formal and Informal Contexts
When writing the date out in full, especially in formal contexts like letters, documents, or emails, it is common to include the definite article and the month written in words. For example:
- 15. Juni 2024 (15th June 2024)
- den 3. Oktober 1990 (the 3rd of October 1990)
In formal writing, you may also encounter the full phrase:
- Berlin, den 15. Juni 2024 (Berlin, the 15th of June 2024)
Spoken Dates in German
When saying the date aloud, Germans use the ordinal number for the day, followed by the month and year. For example:
- der fünfzehnte Juni zweitausendvierundzwanzig (the fifteenth of June, two thousand twenty-four)
It’s common to use am (on) when referring to a specific date:
- am 15. Juni (on June 15th)
Notice that the day is always written or spoken as an ordinal number (1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc.), and the month is capitalized, as all nouns are in German.
Quick Reference: German Months and Ordinal Numbers
Here is a quick overview of the months and how to form ordinal numbers for dates:
- Januar (January)
- Februar (February)
- März (March)
- April (April)
- Mai (May)
- Juni (June)
- Juli (July)
- August (August)
- September (September)
- Oktober (October)
- November (November)
- Dezember (December)
Ordinal numbers for days are formed by adding -te (for 1–19) or -ste (for 20 and up):
- 1. = erste
- 2. = zweite
- 3. = dritte
- 4. = vierte
- 20. = zwanzigste
- 21. = einundzwanzigste
Common Mistakes to Avoid
When learning to write the date in German, some typical mistakes include:
- Using slashes (15/06/2024) instead of periods (15.06.2024)
- Placing the month before the day (06.15.2024), which is incorrect in German
- Forgetting to capitalize the months
- Not using ordinal numbers for the day in full written or spoken dates
Tips for Mastering German Dates
- Practice writing dates in both numerical and full-text formats.
- Listen to native speakers or use language tools like Talkpal to hear how dates are spoken.
- Pay attention to context: formal letters often require the full, written-out date, while casual notes may use the numerical format.
- Double-check your use of periods and capitalization.
Conclusion
Mastering how to write the date correctly in German is a small but vital step toward fluency. By following these guidelines and practicing regularly, you’ll communicate more clearly and confidently. For more tips on learning German and improving your language skills, explore additional resources and interactive exercises on the Talkpal blog. Viel Erfolg beim Deutschlernen! (Good luck learning German!)
