When communicating in Spanish, expressing the date is an essential skill that can help you navigate everyday conversations, appointments, and even formal events. Whether you’re a beginner or an advanced learner, understanding how to say the date in Spanish can make a significant difference in your language proficiency. In this article, we’ll delve into the world of Spanish dates, exploring the various ways to express the day, month, and year.
Understanding the Basics of Spanish Dates
Before we dive into the specifics, it’s essential to understand the basic structure of Spanish dates. In Spanish, the date is typically written in the format of day-month-year (DD-MM-YYYY). However, when expressing the date verbally, the format changes to day of the week, day of the month, month, and year.
The Days of the Week
To express the date in Spanish, you need to know the days of the week. Here are the seven days of the week in Spanish:
- Lunes (Monday)
- Martes (Tuesday)
- miércoles (Wednesday)
- Jueves (Thursday)
- Viernes (Friday)
- Sábado (Saturday)
- Domingo (Sunday)
The Months of the Year
Next, you need to know the 12 months of the year in Spanish:
- Enero (January)
- Febrero (February)
- Marzo (March)
- Abril (April)
- Mayo (May)
- Junio (June)
- Julio (July)
- Agosto (August)
- Septiembre (September)
- Octubre (October)
- Noviembre (November)
- Diciembre (December)
Expressing the Date in Spanish
Now that you know the days of the week and the months of the year, it’s time to learn how to express the date in Spanish. Here are a few examples:
Today’s Date
To express today’s date, you can use the following format:
Hoy es [day of the week], [day of the month] de [month] de [year].
For example:
Hoy es lunes, 26 de julio de 2024.
Tomorrow’s Date
To express tomorrow’s date, you can use the following format:
Mañana es [day of the week], [day of the month] de [month] de [year].
For example:
Mañana es martes, 27 de julio de 2024.
Yesterday’s Date
To express yesterday’s date, you can use the following format:
Ayer fue [day of the week], [day of the month] de [month] de [year].
For example:
Ayer fue domingo, 25 de julio de 2024.
Using Ordinal Numbers
When expressing the date in Spanish, you’ll often need to use ordinal numbers to indicate the day of the month. Here are the ordinal numbers from 1st to 31st:
| Number | Ordinal Number |
|---|---|
| 1 | primero |
| 2 | segundo |
| 3 | tercero |
| 4 | cuarto |
| 5 | quinto |
| 6 | sexto |
| 7 | séptimo |
| 8 | octavo |
| 9 | noveno |
| 10 | décimo |
| 11 | undécimo |
| 12 | duodécimo |
| 13 | decimotercero |
| 14 | decimocuarto |
| 15 | decimoquinto |
| 16 | decimosexto |
| 17 | decimoséptimo |
| 18 | decimoctavo |
| 19 | decimonoveno |
| 20 | vigésimo |
| 21 | vigésimo primero |
| 22 | vigésimo segundo |
| 23 | vigésimo tercero |
| 24 | vigésimo cuarto |
| 25 | vigésimo quinto |
| 26 | vigésimo sexto |
| 27 | vigésimo séptimo |
| 28 | vigésimo octavo |
| 29 | vigésimo noveno |
| 30 | trigésimo |
| 31 | trigésimo primero |
Common Expressions and Phrases
Here are some common expressions and phrases you can use when expressing the date in Spanish:
Days of the Week
- Hoy es (Today is)
- Mañana es (Tomorrow is)
- Ayer fue (Yesterday was)
- La semana que viene (Next week)
- La semana pasada (Last week)
Months of the Year
- Este mes (This month)
- El mes pasado (Last month)
- El mes que viene (Next month)
Years
- Este año (This year)
- El año pasado (Last year)
- El año que viene (Next year)
Conclusion
Expressing the date in Spanish can seem daunting at first, but with practice and patience, you can master this essential skill. Remember to use the correct format, ordinal numbers, and common expressions to convey the date accurately. Whether you’re communicating with native speakers or writing in Spanish, knowing how to express the date will help you navigate everyday situations with confidence.
What are the basic components of a date in Spanish?
The basic components of a date in Spanish include the day of the week, the day of the month, the month, and the year. In Spanish, the day of the week is usually written first, followed by the day of the month, the month, and finally the year. For example, “lunes, 12 de junio de 2023” translates to “Monday, June 12, 2023” in English.
It’s worth noting that the format of the date can vary depending on the context and the level of formality. In informal writing, such as text messages or social media posts, the day of the week may be omitted, and the date may be written in a more concise format, such as “12/6/2023”. However, in formal writing, such as business letters or official documents, the full format is usually used.
How do I express the day of the week in Spanish?
The days of the week in Spanish are: lunes (Monday), martes (Tuesday), miércoles (Wednesday), jueves (Thursday), viernes (Friday), sábado (Saturday), and domingo (Sunday). To express the day of the week, simply use the corresponding word. For example, “Hoy es lunes” means “Today is Monday”.
It’s also common to use the phrase “el día” (the day) before the day of the week, especially in formal writing. For example, “El día lunes, 12 de junio de 2023” means “On Monday, June 12, 2023”. Additionally, the day of the week can be used to express the frequency of an event, such as “todos los lunes” (every Monday).
How do I express the month in Spanish?
The months of the year in Spanish are: enero (January), febrero (February), marzo (March), abril (April), mayo (May), junio (June), julio (July), agosto (August), septiembre (September), octubre (October), noviembre (November), and diciembre (December). To express the month, simply use the corresponding word. For example, “mi cumpleaños es en junio” means “my birthday is in June”.
It’s worth noting that the months are not capitalized in Spanish, unless they are at the beginning of a sentence. Additionally, the preposition “de” (of) is often used before the month, especially when expressing the date. For example, “12 de junio” means “June 12”.
How do I express the year in Spanish?
The year in Spanish is expressed using the word “año” (year) followed by the number of the year. For example, “el año 2023” means “the year 2023”. Alternatively, the year can be expressed using the phrase “dos mil veintitrés” (two thousand twenty-three).
When expressing the year in a date, the phrase “de” (of) is often used before the year. For example, “12 de junio de 2023” means “June 12, 2023”. Additionally, the year can be abbreviated using the last two digits, especially in informal writing. For example, “23” can be used to represent the year 2023.
How do I express a specific date in Spanish?
To express a specific date in Spanish, use the format “day of the week, day of the month de month de year”. For example, “lunes, 12 de junio de 2023” means “Monday, June 12, 2023”. Alternatively, the day of the week can be omitted, and the date can be written in a more concise format, such as “12 de junio de 2023”.
When expressing a specific date, it’s also common to use the phrase “el día” (the day) before the day of the month. For example, “el día 12 de junio de 2023” means “on June 12, 2023”. Additionally, the date can be used to express the frequency of an event, such as “todos los 12 de junio” (every June 12).
How do I express a range of dates in Spanish?
To express a range of dates in Spanish, use the format “desde” (from) followed by the starting date, and “hasta” (until) followed by the ending date. For example, “desde el 1 de enero hasta el 31 de diciembre” means “from January 1 to December 31”.
Alternatively, the phrase “del” (of the) can be used before the starting date, and “al” (to the) can be used before the ending date. For example, “del 1 de enero al 31 de diciembre” means “from January 1 to December 31”. Additionally, the range of dates can be expressed using the phrase “entre” (between) followed by the starting and ending dates.
What are some common expressions related to dates in Spanish?
Some common expressions related to dates in Spanish include “hoy” (today), “mañana” (tomorrow), “ayer” (yesterday), “la semana pasada” (last week), “la semana que viene” (next week), and “el mes pasado” (last month). These expressions can be used to express the date in a more informal and conversational way.
Additionally, there are many idiomatic expressions related to dates in Spanish, such as “tomar la fecha” (to take a date), “dar la fecha” (to give a date), and “fijar la fecha” (to set a date). These expressions can be used to add more flavor and nuance to your language when expressing dates in Spanish.