¿cuál es tu fecha de nacimiento?
The English phrase 'what is your date of birth' is translated into Spanish as ¿cuál es tu fecha de nacimiento?
The opening part, ¿Cuál es, translates to 'What is' in English.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The form ¿cuál es tu fecha de nacimiento? is informal. When you are speaking to a stranger, an elder or in a professional setting, you should use the formal version: ¿Cuál es su fecha de nacimiento?
How does it change in a sentence?
In Spanish, this phrase uses the interrogative pronoun cuál (which) rather than qué (what) because you are choosing from a set of possible dates.
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly use qué instead of cuál when asking for specific information like a date or a name. Avoid saying ¿Qué es tu fecha de nacimiento? Instead, use cuál.
Did you know?
- The word fecha comes from the Latin word facta, which means 'things done' or 'deeds'. It is a linguistic relative of the English word 'fact'.
- In many Spanish-speaking countries, people provide their birth date in the order of day, month and year, which is the opposite of the common US format.
- While nacimiento refers to the act of birth, in a religious context, el Nacimiento specifically refers to the Nativity scene or the birth of Jesus.
Examples in context
- ¿Cuál es tu fecha de nacimiento?What is your date of birth?This sentence is useful for practicing the question 'What is your date of birth?' using the form ¿cuál es tu fecha de nacimiento?Tatoeba #656175 by MondCivitano, translation #703328 by papabear
- Mi fecha de nacimiento es el 3 de mayo de 1985.My date of birth is the 3rd of May, 1985.
- Para el registro, ¿cuál es tu fecha de nacimiento?For the registry, what is your date of birth?
Example conversation
Lucía is filling out a form at the gym and needs Mateo's information.
- LucíaMateo, necesito completar este formulario.Mateo, I need to complete this form.
- MateoClaro, dime qué necesitas.Sure, tell me what you need.
- Lucía¿Cuál es tu fecha de nacimiento?What is your date of birth?
- MateoEs el diez de mayo de mil novecientos noventa.It is May tenth, nineteen ninety.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cuál, de, es, fecha, nacimiento, tu, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
