Mastering the nuances of writing dates in French is essential for effective communication in this language. The French language possesses a unique set of rules and conventions when it comes to expressing dates, which can be initially daunting for non-native speakers. However, by understanding these conventions and putting them into practice, you can communicate dates accurately and clearly in French.
The format for writing dates in French follows a logical and consistent pattern. The day of the month comes first, followed by the month, and finally the year. This is in contrast to the English format, which places the month before the day. For example, the date July 4th, 2023, would be written as “le 4 juillet 2023” in French. Additionally, the French language uses ordinal numbers for the day of the month, with the exception of the first day, which is simply “le premier” (the first).
When writing the month in French, it is important to use the correct form. Months in French are typically lowercase, except for the first letter. Furthermore, some months have special forms when used in dates. For instance, “avril” (April) becomes “d’avril” when preceded by a day of the month. This is also the case for “août” (August), which becomes “d’août” in dates. By observing these conventions, you can ensure that your written dates are both accurate and grammatically correct in French.
Capitalizing Months and Days
In French, the names of months and days of the week are capitalized when they are used in a sentence. This is true regardless of whether they are written in full or abbreviated form.
Months
The names of months are always capitalized in French. For example:
| French | English |
|---|---|
| Janvier | January |
| Février | February |
| Mars | March |
| Avril | April |
| Mai | May |
Days of the Week
The names of days of the week are also always capitalized in French. For example:
| French | English |
|---|---|
| Lundi | Monday |
| Mardi | Tuesday |
| Mercredi | Wednesday |
| Jeudi | Thursday |
| Vendredi | Friday |
| Samedi | Saturday |
| Dimanche | Sunday |
Noting Exceptions and Special Cases
When writing dates in French, there are a few exceptions and special cases to keep in mind:
Last Day of the Month
The last day of the month is written as follows:
| Date | French |
|---|---|
| 30 | trente |
| 31 | trente et un |
Years
Years are typically written in numerals, with the exception of the following:
- 10 to 99: written in words, with hyphens between tens and units
- 100 to 999: written in numerals, with a space between hundreds and units
- 1,000 and above: written in numerals
Decades
Decades are written as follows:
| Decade | French |
|---|---|
| 1980s | années quatre-vingt |
| 1990s | années quatre-vingt-dix |
| 2000s | années deux mille |
| 2010s | années deux mille dix |
Centuries
Centuries are written as follows:
| Century | French |
|---|---|
| 19th century | le XIXe siècle |
| 20th century | le XXe siècle |
| 21st century | le XXIe siècle |
How to Write a Date in French
Writing a date in French is similar to writing a date in English, but there are a few key differences to keep in mind.
The first difference is that the day of the month is written before the name of the month in French. For example, instead of writing “March 15, 2023” in English, you would write “15 mars 2023” in French.
The second difference is that the year is written in full in French. For example, instead of writing “2023” in English, you would write “deux mille vingt-trois” in French.
Here are some examples of dates written in French:
- 15 mars 2023
- 24 juin 2023
- 12 octobre 2023
