Learning to express dates in French is essential when you want to discuss your plans, arrange meetings, or simply keep track of time in daily conversations. In this guide, we will explore how to say a date in French, covering both formal and informal ways. Regional variations will be mentioned whenever necessary. Let’s dive in and discover the fascinating world of French dates!
Table of Contents
Formal Expressions
Formal expressions are ideal for professional settings, official correspondence, or when speaking to someone you don’t know well. Here are some common phrases:
- Le [day] [month] [year] – Pronounced as “luh” (pronounced as “luh”) followed by the day, month, and year. For example, “Le 10 juin 2023” means “June 10th, 2023.”
- On est le [day] [month] [year] – Similar to the previous expression, but starting with “On est le” meaning “Today is the.” For instance, “On est le 10 juin 2023” means “Today is June 10th, 2023.”
- Nous sommes le [day] [month] [year] – Another variant of the previous expressions, this phrase means “We are.” For example, “Nous sommes le 10 juin 2023” means “We are on June 10th, 2023.”
- Aujourd’hui, nous sommes [day] [month] [year] – This expression translates to “Today, we are.” For instance, “Aujourd’hui, nous sommes le 10 juin 2023” means “Today, we are on June 10th, 2023.”
Informal Expressions
When addressing friends, family, or acquaintances, informal expressions are more common. Here are some phrases you can use:
- Aujourd’hui, on est le [day] [month] [year] – Starting with “Aujourd’hui, on est le,” this expression is an informal way to say “Today is” the followed by the day, month, and year. For example, “Aujourd’hui, on est le 10 juin 2023” means “Today is June 10th, 2023.”
- On est le [day] [month] [year] – Similar to the above phrase, this expression excludes “Aujourd’hui” meaning “Today.” For instance, “On est le 10 juin 2023” means “It’s June 10th, 2023.”
- Le [day] [month] [year] – Just like in formal expressions, you can also use “Le” followed by the day, month, and year informally. For example, “Le 10 juin 2023” means “June 10th, 2023.”
Examples and Additional Tips
To further strengthen your understanding, let’s explore some examples and additional tips:
Example 1:
Marie is meeting her friend Jean at a café. She wants to confirm the date.
Marie: Salut Jean, on se retrouve au café le 15 avril 2023.
Jean: Parfait ! À bientôt !
Translation:
Marie: Hi Jean, we’re meeting at the café on April 15th, 2023.
Jean: Perfect! See you soon!
Example 2:
Pierre wants to invite his friends to a party.
Pierre: Salut tout le monde, j’organise une fête chez moi le 28 décembre. Vous êtes tous invités !
Translation:
Pierre: Hi everyone, I’m throwing a party at my place on December 28th. You’re all invited!
Tips:
- Remember that in French, the day comes before the month. So, it is “June 10th” and not “10th June.”
- The months are not capitalized in French, unlike in English.
- When saying a specific year, you can simply state the number, e.g., “2023” instead of “twenty twenty-three.”
Congratulations! You are now equipped to confidently express dates in French, both formally and informally. Practice using these expressions in conversations to solidify your skills. Bonne chance!
