Greetings! If you’re looking to learn how to say the date in French, you’ve come to the right place. In this guide, we’ll show you the formal and informal ways to express the date in French. While there might be some regional variations, we’ll focus mainly on the standard French used in everyday conversations. So, let’s dive in!
Formal Ways to Say the Date
When it comes to formal situations, such as writing a letter or filling out official documents, it’s essential to use the appropriate format for expressing the date in French. The following are some tips and examples to help you:
Tips for Formal Occasions:
- Use cardinal numbers (1, 2, 3) to represent the day of the month.
- Use the preposition “le” before the day.
- Use the preposition “de” before the month.
- Use the preposition “de” before the year.
- Write the day first, then the month, and finally the year.
Examples:
- Aujourd’hui nous sommes le 3 mai 2022. (Today is May 3, 2022.)
- Le 9 juillet 1789, la Bastille a été prise. (On July 9, 1789, the Bastille was stormed.)
- Il est né le 1er janvier 2000. (He was born on January 1, 2000.)
Informal Ways to Say the Date
In more casual settings, such as when speaking with friends or family, you have more flexibility in how you express the date. Here are some tips and examples to help you do so:
Tips for Informal Settings:
- Use ordinal numbers (1st, 2nd, 3rd) to represent the day of the month.
- Omit the prepositions “le” and “de”.
- Use the word “aujourd’hui” to start the sentence.
- Write the day first, then the month, and finally the year.
Examples:
- Aujourd’hui, nous sommes le 3 mai 2022. (Today is May 3, 2022.)
- On est le 9 juillet, 1789, la Bastille a été prise. (It’s July 9, 1789, the Bastille was stormed.)
- Il est né le 1er janvier, 2000. (He was born on January 1, 2000.)
Tips for Remembering the Months in French
Remembering the names of the months in French might seem challenging at first. Here are some tips to help you memorize them:
- Associate each month with a specific event or celebration.
- Create mnemonic devices using the initial letters of each month.
- Practice saying and writing the months regularly.
Key Phrases Related to Dates
In addition to knowing how to express the date, it’s helpful to be familiar with some key phrases commonly used in relation to dates:
- Aujourd’hui: Today
- Demain: Tomorrow
- Hier: Yesterday
- Le mois prochain: Next month
- Le mois dernier: Last month
- L’année prochaine: Next year
- L’année dernière: Last year
By familiarizing yourself with these useful phrases, you’ll be better equipped to navigate conversations about dates in French.
Conclusion
Congratulations! You’ve now learned how to say the date in French, both formally and informally. Remember to adjust your expressions based on the context and level of formality. Take some time to practice saying and writing dates in French, and soon it’ll become second nature to you. Keep up the great work, and soon you’ll be impressing your French-speaking friends with your language skills.
Happy learning!
