How to Write Date in Spanish
Writing dates in Spanish can be a bit different from how we write them in English. Whether you’re filling out a form, scheduling an event, or simply communicating with Spanish-speaking individuals, knowing how to write dates correctly is essential. In this article, we’ll guide you through the process of writing dates in Spanish, including the format and some common pitfalls to avoid.
Understanding the Format
The most common format for writing dates in Spanish is the day-month-year order, which is the same as in English. However, the way the numbers are written and the symbols used can differ. In Spanish, dates are typically written with the day followed by the month and then the year. The month is written out in full, and the year is written with four digits.
For example, if you want to write the date “March 15, 2023,” you would write it as “15 de marzo de 2023” in Spanish. Notice that the day and year are written with Arabic numerals, while the month is written in words.
Numbering the Days
When writing the day, you’ll need to use the correct form of the number. In Spanish, numbers have different forms depending on whether they are singular or plural. For numbers one through nine, the singular and plural forms are the same. However, for numbers ten and above, the plural form is created by adding an “s” to the end of the number.
For example, “15” is written as “quince” (singular) and “dieciséis” (plural). So, if you want to write “the 16th of March,” you would write it as “dieciséis de marzo.”
Writing the Months
As mentioned earlier, the months in Spanish are written out in full. There are 12 months in the Spanish calendar, just like in English. Here’s a list of the months and their Spanish translations:
1. January – enero
2. February – febrero
3. March – marzo
4. April – abril
5. May – mayo
6. June – junio
7. July – julio
8. August – agosto
9. September – septiembre
10. October – octubre
11. November – noviembre
12. December – diciembre
Using the Correct Prepositions
In Spanish, prepositions are used to connect words and phrases. When writing dates, the preposition “de” (of) is used to connect the day and the month, and “de” is also used to connect the month and the year.
For example, “15 de marzo de 2023” means “the 15th of March, 2023.” In this case, “de” is used twice to show the relationship between the day, month, and year.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
When writing dates in Spanish, there are a few common mistakes to avoid:
1. Don’t mix Arabic numerals with words. Use either all Arabic numerals or all words when writing the day and year.
2. Don’t forget to use the preposition “de” to connect the day, month, and year.
3. Be careful with the number forms. Use the correct singular or plural form of the number for the day.
By following these guidelines, you’ll be able to write dates in Spanish with confidence. Whether you’re communicating with Spanish-speaking friends, filling out official documents, or simply expressing your own dates, knowing how to write dates in Spanish is a valuable skill.
