el primero de mes
/el pɾimeɾo de mes/from spelling rules
The English phrase "the first of the month" is translated into Spanish as el primero de mes.
This phrase is used to refer to the first day of a calendar month.
How do you pronounce it?
/el pɾimeɾo de mes/
Did you know?
- In Spanish, the first day of the month is the only date that typically uses the ordinal number primero instead of the cardinal number uno. For any other day, such as the second or tenth, Spanish speakers use cardinal numbers.
- The word mes shares a distant ancestor with the English word 'moon', as both stem from the Proto-Indo-European root for 'month' or 'moon'.
- While el primero de mes is standard, in some Latin American countries, people say el uno instead, blending the ordinal and cardinal systems.
Examples in context
- Estimados clientes, les recordamos que los pagos deben realizarse antes del primero del mes.Dear customers, we remind you that payments should be made before the first of the month.
- Por favor, realice su consulta antes del día uno del mes próximo.Please submit your inquiry before the first day of next month.
- ¡No te olvides de nuestro plan para el uno del mes!Don't forget about our plan for the first of the month!
- El pago vence el primero de mes.The payment is due on the first of the month.
Example conversation
Sofía and Mateo are discussing their monthly bills.
- SofíaMateo, ¿cuándo vence la factura del agua?Mateo, when is the water bill due?
- MateoVence siempre el primero de mes.It is always due on the first of the month.
- SofíaGracias, lo anotaré en mi calendario.Thanks, I will write it in my calendar.
- MateoPerfecto, así no se nos olvida.Perfect, that way we won't forget.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries de, el, mes, primero, CC BY-SA 4.0.
