Learning how to say dates in German is essential for anyone wishing to converse or write in the German language. Whether you need to schedule appointments, give out your birthday, or simply talk about dates in conversation, this guide will provide you with the knowledge you need. In this article, we will explore both the formal and informal ways to express dates in German, with some helpful tips and examples along the way.
Table of Contents
Formal Way of Saying Dates in German
When it comes to formal situations, such as business meetings, official documents, or academic settings, Germans tend to follow a specific structure for expressing dates. The format generally consists of mentioning the day, followed by the month and the year. Here is an example:
Wir treffen uns am zehnten Oktober zweitausendzwanzig.
(We will meet on the tenth of October, 2020.)
Here are some additional tips to keep in mind when using the formal way of saying dates in German:
- Ordinal Numbers: In order to express the day within the month, Germans use ordinal numbers. For example, “erste” (first), “zweite” (second), “dritte” (third), and so on.
- Pronunciation: Pay attention to the correct pronunciation of the ordinal numbers to ensure clear communication.
- Leading Zeroes: Germans typically use leading zeroes when expressing the day or month. For instance, “der nullte März” (the zeroth of March) or “der zwölften Juli” (the twelfth of July).
Informal Way of Saying Dates in German
When it comes to informal conversations, Germans often use a more relaxed way of expressing dates. The most common format involves stating the day, followed by the month, and finally the year. Here is an example:
Unser Treffen ist am 10. Oktober 2020.
(Our meeting is on October 10, 2020.)
When using the informal way, there are a few things to consider:
- Date Separators: Germans use a period (.) as the separator between the day, month, and year.
- Abbreviations: It is common to abbreviate the month using its first three letters. For example, “Jan” for January, “Feb” for February, and so on.
- Context: Since the order of the day and month can be ambiguous in some cases (e.g., 10/12 could refer to October 12th or December 10th), it is important to clarify the context in conversation.
Regional Variations
While the formal and informal ways of saying dates are widely understood throughout the German-speaking regions, there might be slight variations depending on the country or region. Here are a few examples:
- Austria: Austrians often use a two-digit day instead of an ordinal number. For instance, “das zehnte Oktober” (10th October) becomes “der zehn Oktober.”
- Switzerland: In Switzerland, it is common to use leading zeroes for the month instead of the day. For example, “das nullte März” (0th March) instead of “der nullten März” (0th of March).
Examples and Phrases
Here are some additional examples and useful phrases to help you confidently express dates in German:
- Today’s date is: Heute ist der [current date].
- What is the date today? Welches Datum haben wir heute?
- My birthday is on: Mein Geburtstag ist am [date].
- Next week: Nächste Woche
- Last month: Letzten Monat
- Are you free on the [date]? Hast du am [date] Zeit?
- What are you doing on [date]? Was machst du am [date]?
Now that you have a thorough understanding of how to say dates in German, you can confidently schedule appointments, celebrate birthdays, and engage in conversations involving dates. Keep practicing, and soon enough, using dates in German will become second nature to you!
