How to Write the Date in French

PDF download Download Article
PDF download Download Article

Writing the date in French is not difficult, although Americans should remember to switch to a "day month" format. Unlike in English, the names of months or days of the week are not capitalized.

How do you write a date in French?

In French, write the date as day-month-year. For example, March 15, 2015 (3/15/15) in English would be 15 mars 2015 (15/3/15) in French. To speak the date, add “le” to the beginning and use cardinal numbers (“le quinze mars”). To say it’s the first of the month, say “le premier” followed by the month.

Sample Ways to Write the Date

Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

Writing and Pronouncing Dates in French

PDF download Download Article
  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/a\/a6\/Write-the-Date-in-French-Step-1-Version-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Write-the-Date-in-French-Step-1-Version-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/a\/a6\/Write-the-Date-in-French-Step-1-Version-3.jpg\/aid680689-v4-728px-Write-the-Date-in-French-Step-1-Version-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>\u00a9 2024 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image is <b>not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.<br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    The French names are written above in italic , with the French pronunciation following in parentheses. [1] An (n) in parentheses represents a nasalized "n."
    • January: janvier (zhah(n)-vyay)
    • February: février (fay-vree-yay)
    • March: mars (mahrs)
    • April: avril (ah-vreel)
    • May: mai (meh)
    • June: juin (zhwa(n))
    • July: juillet (zhwee-eh)
    • August: août (oot)
    • September: septembre (sehp-tah(n)br)
    • October: octobre (ohk-tohbr)
    • November: novembre (noh-vah(n)br)
    • December: décembre (day-sah(n)br)
  2. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/2\/21\/Write-the-Date-in-French-Step-2-Version-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Write-the-Date-in-French-Step-2-Version-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/2\/21\/Write-the-Date-in-French-Step-2-Version-3.jpg\/aid680689-v4-728px-Write-the-Date-in-French-Step-2-Version-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>\u00a9 2024 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image is <b>not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.<br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    In French, the date is written in "day month year" order, with no commas separating each term. Note that the month is not capitalized. Here are a couple examples (plus the abbreviated version):
    • 4 août 1789 (4/8/1789)
    • 15 mars 2015 (15/3/2015)
    Advertisement
  3. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/2\/22\/Write-the-Date-in-French-Step-3-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Write-the-Date-in-French-Step-3-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/2\/22\/Write-the-Date-in-French-Step-3-Version-2.jpg\/aid680689-v4-728px-Write-the-Date-in-French-Step-3-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>\u00a9 2024 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image is <b>not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.<br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    To read the date out loud, add le to the beginning of the date, and read all dates as cardinal numbers ("five" instead of "fifth"). [2] Here are the previous examples written as you would say them. Study how to count in French if you are not familiar with reading French numbers:
    • "le quatre août mille sept cent quatre-vingt-neuf"
    • "le quinze mars deux mille quatorze"
    • Every month is a masculine noun, so the article used is always le .
  4. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/4\/4d\/Write-the-Date-in-French-Step-4-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Write-the-Date-in-French-Step-4-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/4\/4d\/Write-the-Date-in-French-Step-4-Version-2.jpg\/aid680689-v4-728px-Write-the-Date-in-French-Step-4-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>\u00a9 2024 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image is <b>not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.<br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    When talking about the first day of the month, use "1er" in writing, and say "premier" when speaking aloud. This is the only date that uses ordinal numbers ("first") instead of cardinal ("one"). For example: [3]
    • 1er avril (1/4), spoken "le premier avril"
    5. Advertisement
Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Writing and Pronouncing the Days of the Week

PDF download Download Article
  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/f\/fa\/Write-the-Date-in-French-Step-5-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Write-the-Date-in-French-Step-5-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/f\/fa\/Write-the-Date-in-French-Step-5-Version-2.jpg\/aid680689-v4-728px-Write-the-Date-in-French-Step-5-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>\u00a9 2024 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image is <b>not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.<br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    Refer to the list above to learn the days of the week in French, along with how they are pronounced. [4] Note that the days of the week are not capitalized in French.
    • Monday: lundi (luh(n)-dee)
    • Tuesday: mardi (mahr-dee)
    • Wednesday: mercredi (mehr-kruh-dee)
    • Thursday: jeudi (zhuh-dee)
    • Friday: vendredi (vah(n)-druh-dee)
    • Saturday: samedi (sahm-dee)
    • Sunday: dimanche (dee-mah(n)sh)
  2. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/6\/6f\/Write-the-Date-in-French-Step-6-Version-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Write-the-Date-in-French-Step-6-Version-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/6\/6f\/Write-the-Date-in-French-Step-6-Version-3.jpg\/aid680689-v4-728px-Write-the-Date-in-French-Step-6-Version-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>\u00a9 2024 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image is <b>not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.<br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    This is identical to writing the date, with the day of the week added to the front of the phrase. Here's an example: [5]
    • English: Wednesday, the 5th of June
    • French (written): mercredi, le 5 juin 2001 (formal)
    • French (written): mercredi 5 juin 2001 (normal)
    • French (spoken): mercredi cinq juin deux mille un
    • French (spoken): le mercredi cinq juin deux mille un (eventually if you want to describe a precise day)
  3. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/e\/e6\/Write-the-Date-in-French-Step-7-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Write-the-Date-in-French-Step-7-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/e\/e6\/Write-the-Date-in-French-Step-7-Version-2.jpg\/aid680689-v4-728px-Write-the-Date-in-French-Step-7-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>\u00a9 2024 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image is <b>not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.<br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    Every day of the week is a masculine noun, so the article le is used. For example, "Le samedi est le sixième jour." means "Saturday is the sixth day." However, when you are talking about an event that occurred on a specific day, know the difference between le samedi and samedi : [6]
    • Samedi, je dîne au restaurant. = On Saturday, I dine at a restaurant. (A single event.)
    • Le samedi, je dîne au restaurant. = Every Saturday, I dine at a restaurant. (A repeated event.)
    4. Advertisement
Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

Using Dates in Phrases

PDF download Download Article
  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/4\/4b\/Write-the-Date-in-French-Step-8-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Write-the-Date-in-French-Step-8-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/4\/4b\/Write-the-Date-in-French-Step-8-Version-2.jpg\/aid680689-v4-728px-Write-the-Date-in-French-Step-8-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>\u00a9 2024 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image is <b>not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.<br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    Ask someone today's date by saying or writing Quelle est la date aujourd’hui? [7]
    • Aujourd'hui means "today." Optionally, you can use d'aujourd'hui ("of today") to use the word as a noun instead of an adverb. Both are widely used.
  2. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/1\/1c\/Write-the-Date-in-French-Step-9-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Write-the-Date-in-French-Step-9-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/1\/1c\/Write-the-Date-in-French-Step-9-Version-2.jpg\/aid680689-v4-728px-Write-the-Date-in-French-Step-9-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>\u00a9 2024 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image is <b>not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.<br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    To ask for the day of the week, say Quel jour sommes-nous aujourd’hui? or Quel jour est-on aujourd’hui? [8]
  3. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/4\/49\/Write-the-Date-in-French-Step-10-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Write-the-Date-in-French-Step-10-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/4\/49\/Write-the-Date-in-French-Step-10-Version-2.jpg\/aid680689-v4-728px-Write-the-Date-in-French-Step-10-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>\u00a9 2024 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image is <b>not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.<br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    If someone asks you one of the above questions, be prepared to answer: [9]
    • To answer with "Today is Monday, November 15th," write Aujourd'hui, c'est le lundi 15 novembre .
    • To answer "Today is Sunday," say Aujourd'hui, c'est dimanche. or simply C'est dimanche .
  4. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/3\/33\/Write-the-Date-in-French-Step-11-Version-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Write-the-Date-in-French-Step-11-Version-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/3\/33\/Write-the-Date-in-French-Step-11-Version-3.jpg\/aid680689-v4-728px-Write-the-Date-in-French-Step-11-Version-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>\u00a9 2024 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image is <b>not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.<br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    Use this word to write "in July" ( en juillet ), "in 1950" ( en 1950 ), "in April 2011" ( en avril 2011 ), and so forth. [10] This phrase can go at the front or the end of a sentence. For example:
    • J’ai un rendez-vous chez le médecin en mars. = I have an appointment with the doctor in March.
    • J'ai vécu à Paris en 1990. = I lived in Paris in 1990.
    5. Advertisement

Community Q&A

Search
Add New Question
  • Question
    Is 05/08/17 August 5, 2017?
    Community Answer
    Yes. As the article says, the date is written in "day month year" order.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 3 Helpful 25
  • Question
    How can I make my keyboard French?
    Community Answer
    Go to the language settings of your computer and choose "French." Your keyboard should then have an option to change it to French.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 12 Helpful 31
  • Question
    How do ask, "What is today's date?"
    Dodo47
    Top Answerer
    You can say "Quelle est la date d'aujourd'hui ?" (What's today's date?) Or more common: "On est quel jour aujourd'hui ?"
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 9 Helpful 17
See more answers
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Video

      Tips

      • The pronunciation listed is "textbook French." Someone from a Francophone country outside of France, or even a different region of France, will pronounce these words differently. Using textbook French is recommended because different accents will be hard to understand to native French speakers.
        Thanks
        Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Name
      Please provide your name and last initial
      Submit
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
      Advertisement

      You Might Also Like

      How to
      Speak French
      How to
      Speak Basic French
      How to
      Describe Yourself in French
      How to
      End a Letter in French
      How to
      Type French Accents
      How to
      Say Good Morning in French with Pronunciations
      How to
      Pronounce Les Miserables
      How to
      Tell Time in French
      How to
      Learn French Fast
      How to
      Say Goodnight in French
      How to
      Pronounce the Letters of the French Alphabet
      How to
      Pronounce French Words
      How to
      Conjugate French Verbs
      How to
      Say Stop in French
      Advertisement

      References

      1. ↑ https://reference.yourdictionary.com/other-languages/learn-months-year-days-week-french
      2. ↑ http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/how-to-talking-about-days-months-seasons-and-dates.html
      3. ↑ https://www.mezzoguild.com/learn/french/numbers/
      4. ↑ http://french.languagedaily.com/wordsandphrases/days-of-the-week
      5. ↑ https://reference.yourdictionary.com/other-languages/learn-months-year-days-week-french
      6. ↑ https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/articles/zhsnn9q
      7. ↑ https://www.cliffsnotes.com/study-guides/french/french-i/french-i-everyday-words-and-phrases/days-and-dates
      8. ↑ https://www.cliffsnotes.com/study-guides/french/french-i/french-i-everyday-words-and-phrases/days-and-dates
      9. ↑ https://reference.yourdictionary.com/other-languages/learn-months-year-days-week-french
      1. ↑ http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/how-to-talking-about-days-months-seasons-and-dates.html

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      To write the date in French, start by writing the date of the month, followed by the month, and finally the year. Do not capitalize the name of the month. If you need to include the day of the week, write that first. If the date you are writing is the first of the month, write it as “1er,” pronounced premier, followed by the name of the month. For a list of the French names of the months and their pronunciation, keep reading!

      Did this summary help you?
      In other languages
      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 536,078 times.

      Reader Success Stories

      • Anonymous

        Jun 16, 2016

        "I needed to know how to say what the date was. E.g. C'est le mercredi quinze juin. This article told me how to ..." more
      More reader stories Hide reader stories
      Share your story

      Did this article help you?

      Advertisement