The Basics of French Dates
In French, dates are typically expressed in the format: day + month + year. For example, “le 15 mars 2024” translates to “March 15, 2024”. Numbers are usually written in digits, but when saying dates aloud, ordinal and cardinal numbers come into play—especially for the first day of the month.
When to Use “Premier” in French Dates
The word premier means “first” in French and is used as an ordinal number. In the context of dates, “premier” is exclusively used to refer to the first day of the month. This is a unique exception in French date conventions. For example:
- Le premier janvier (January 1st)
- Le premier mai (May 1st)
- Le premier septembre (September 1st)
Notice that “premier” is always used in the masculine singular form, matching the gender of the implied word “jour” (day), which is masculine in French.
When to Use “Un” in French Dates
While “un” means “one” in French, it is not used to denote the first day of the month in dates. Instead, “un” is a cardinal number and is never used in place of “premier” when stating dates. For all other days of the month (2 to 31), the simple cardinal numbers are used:
- Le 2 février (February 2nd)
- Le 15 août (August 15th)
- Le 28 décembre (December 28th)
So remember: “un” is never used for the first of the month in date expressions.
Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
A frequent error among French learners is to say le un janvier for “January 1st”. While understandable, this is incorrect. The correct form is always le premier janvier. Conversely, using “premier” for any date other than the first is also wrong—never say le premier mars for March 2nd; instead, use le 2 mars.
Why Does This Rule Exist?
This convention is a remnant of older French language traditions, where the first of something is distinct from the rest. The use of “premier” for the first day of the month sets it apart, while all subsequent days use simple numbers. This pattern helps to clarify communication and maintain consistency in the language.
Practical Tips to Master Dates in French
- Practice with a calendar: Go through each month and say the dates aloud, paying special attention to the first day.
- Listen to native speakers: Watch French news or listen to the radio to hear how dates are pronounced.
- Use language apps: Platforms like Talkpal offer interactive date exercises to reinforce the correct usage of “premier” and “un”.
- Write dates regularly: Keep a French journal and start each entry with the date, using “premier” for the first day of the month.
Summary Table: “Premier” vs “Un” in Dates
| Date Expression | French | Correct Usage |
|---|---|---|
| January 1st | le premier janvier | Correct |
| January 2nd | le 2 janvier | Correct |
| January 1st (incorrect) | le un janvier | Incorrect |
Conclusion
Mastering the difference between “premier” and “un” for dates is a small but essential step in speaking and writing French accurately. Remember, “premier” is reserved solely for the first day of the month, while all other days use regular numbers. With practice and the right resources, like those found on Talkpal’s AI language learning blog, you’ll quickly become comfortable expressing dates naturally in French. Bonne chance!
