Dates in French involve several key categories: days of the week, months of the year, ordinal numbers (for days of the month), and common phrases used to express dates. French dates are typically written in the order day + month + year. The word “le” (meaning “the”) is used before dates, and ordinal numbers like premier (first) are used only for the first day of the month. All other days are expressed as cardinal numbers.
Days of the Week
The days of the week are always lowercase in French. They are singular and do not change form.
| French Singular | French Plural | English Singular | English Plural |
|---|---|---|---|
| lundi | lundis | Monday | Mondays |
| mardi | mardis | Tuesday | Tuesdays |
| mercredi | mercredis | Wednesday | Wednesdays |
| jeudi | jeudis | Thursday | Thursdays |
| vendredi | vendredis | Friday | Fridays |
| samedi | samedis | Saturday | Saturdays |
| dimanche | dimanches | Sunday | Sundays |
Usage Examples
- Jeudi (Thursday) – Nous avons rendez-vous jeudi. (We have an appointment on Thursday.)
- Dimanches (Sundays) – Je travaille tous les dimanches. (I work every Sunday.)
Months of the Year
Months are also lowercase and singular in French. They do not change form.
| French Singular | French Plural | English Singular | English Plural |
|---|---|---|---|
| janvier | janvier | January | Januarys |
| février | février | February | Februarys |
| mars | mars | March | Marches |
| avril | avril | April | Aprils |
| mai | mai | May | Mays |
| juin | juin | June | Junes |
| juillet | juillet | July | Julys |
| août | août | August | Augusts |
| septembre | septembre | September | Septembers |
| octobre | octobre | October | Octobers |
| novembre | novembre | November | Novembers |
| décembre | décembre | December | Decembers |
Usage Examples
- en mai (in May) – Je pars en mai. (I am leaving in May.)
- décembre (December) – Noël est en décembre. (Christmas is in December.)
Ordinal Numbers (for Dates)
In French, only the first day of the month uses an ordinal number: premier (first). All other days use cardinal numbers (un, deux, trois, etc.) without suffixes.
| French Ordinal/Cardinal | English Equivalent |
|---|---|
| le premier | the first |
| le deux | the second |
| le trois | the third |
| le quatre | the fourth |
| le cinq | the fifth |
| le six | the sixth |
| le sept | the seventh |
| le huit | the eighth |
| le neuf | the ninth |
| le dix | the tenth |
| le onze | the eleventh |
| le douze | the twelfth |
| le treize | the thirteenth |
| le quatorze | the fourteenth |
| le quinze | the fifteenth |
Usage Examples
- le premier mai (the first of May) – Le premier mai est un jour férié. (May 1st is a public holiday.)
- le vingt-deux juin (the twenty-second of June) – Mon anniversaire est le vingt-deux juin. (My birthday is June 22.)
Useful Date Expressions
French also uses prepositions like le, en, au, and du... au... to talk about dates more naturally.
| French Expression | English Translation |
|---|---|
| le … (e.g. le 5 mai) | on … / the … (e.g., on May 5th) |
| en … (e.g. en juillet) | in … (e.g., in July) |
| au mois de … (e.g. au mois de septembre) | in the month of … (e.g., in September) |
| du … au … (e.g. du 1er au 10 juin) | from … to … (e.g., from June 1st to 10th) |
| à partir du … (e.g. à partir du 15 août) | starting from … (e.g., starting from August 15th) |
| jusqu’au … (e.g. jusqu’au 20 septembre) | until … (e.g., until September 20th) |
Usage Examples
- le 5 mai – La réunion est le 5 mai. (The meeting is on May 5th.)
- en juillet – Je voyage en juillet. (I’m traveling in July.)
- du 1er au 10 juin – Je serai en vacances du 1er au 10 juin. (I will be on vacation from June 1st to 10th.)
on May 5th
le 5 mai
The correct French expression for "on May 5th" is "le 5 mai." The article "le" is used before dates to mean "on the ... day." Other prepositions like "au," "en," and "du" are not used in this context.
The meeting is scheduled for Monday, December 3rd. (French: La réunion est prévue ___.)
lundi 3 décembre
"Lundi 3 décembre" means Monday, December 3rd. Other options alter the month to November, the day to Tuesday, or the date to the 4th, making them incorrect.
Flashcards (1 of 40)
- English Singular: Monday
- English Plural: Mondays
Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025
