How To Say Dates In English

Saying dates in English can be a bit tricky, but don’t worry, I’ve got you covered! In English, the order of the date is usually written as Day-Month-Year, and you can say it out loud as follows:

A complete dates in English usually includes three main components:

• Day: The specific number of days in the month.
• Month: The name of the month.
• Year: The numeric representation of the year.

Formats for Writing Dates in English

In writing, dates can be formatted in different ways:

• American English Format: 1 January 2023: “The first of January, twenty twenty-three”
• British English Format: January 1, 2023: “January first, twenty twenty-three”.
• International Format: Year/Month/Day (e.g., 2023-03-05), often used in formal settings or digital applications.

Days of the Month

Days are commonly expressed as cardinal numbers for formal contexts but often as ordinal numbers in conversation:

• Cardinal: 1, 2, 3, 4…
• Ordinal: 1st (first), 2nd (second), 3rd (third), 4th (fourth), etc.

Use ordinal numbers for days:

Ordinal Numbers

When you say dates in English, obviously you should use ordinal numbers (numbers you use to show an order). 

1 → first	11 → eleventh	21 → twenty-first
2 → second	12 → twelfth	22 → twenty-second
3 → third	13 → thirteenth	23 → twenty-third
4 → fourth	14 → fourteenth	24 → twenty-fourth
5 → fifth	15 → fifteenth	25 → twenty-fifth
6 → sixth	16 → sixteenth	26 → twenty-sixth
7 → seventh	17 → seventeenth	27 → twenty-seventh
8 → eighth	18 → eighteenth	28 → twenty-eighth
9 → ninth	19 → nineteenth	29 → twenty-ninth
10 → tenth	20 → twentieth	30 → thirtieth
		31 → thirty-first

Example: “October 21” can be pronounced as “October twenty-first.”

Months of the Year

When you say dates in English, you should use the name of the month

January: January or Jan
February: February or Feb
March: March or Mar
April: April or Apr
May: May
June: June or Jun
July: July or Jul
August: August or Aug
September: September or Sep
October: October or Oct
November: November or Nov
December: December or Dec

Example: “July 4” is pronounced “July fourth.”

 Years

When saying years, break them down into two parts if they are four digits:

• 1999 is spoken as “nineteen ninety-nine.”
• 2023 is spoken as “twenty twenty-three.”

For years before 2000, say the first two digits followed by the last two:

• 1987 is pronounced “nineteen eighty-seven.”
• 2000 is pronounced “two thousand.”

How to Say Dates in English In Detail

1. Basic Structure:
   • Dates are typically said in the format: Month Day, Year.
   • Example: “March 15, 2022” is spoken as “March fifteenth, twenty twenty-two.”
2. Saying the Month:
   • Months of the year:
     • January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December.
   • When speaking, you can use the abbreviation for months (e.g., Jan for January), but formal contexts require full names.
3. Saying the Day:
   • Use ordinal numbers for the day:
     • 1st (first), 2nd (second), 3rd (third), 4th (fourth), and so on until 31st (thirty-first).
   • Example: “April 1” becomes “April first.”
4. Saying the Year:
   • For years in the 2000s, use “twenty” followed by the last two digits (e.g., 2023 is said as “twenty twenty-three”).
   • For years before 2000, say the full number (e.g., 1995 is “nineteen ninety-five”).
5. Alternative Formats:
   • Dates can also be represented numerically:
     • American format: MM/DD/YYYY (e.g., 03/15/2022).
     • International format: DD/MM/YYYY (e.g., 15/03/2022).
   • In casual speech, you might hear people say the date as “3/15/22” but it’s clearer to say “March fifteenth, twenty twenty-two.”
6. Practice:
   • Convert the following dates into spoken English:
     • 07/04/2023 → “April seventh, twenty twenty-three.”
     • 15/08/2021 → “August fifteenth, twenty twenty-one.”
     • 12/12/2020 → “December twelfth, twenty twenty.”
7. Cultural Notes:
   • Be aware of regional differences in date formats (e.g., the U.S. uses MM/DD, while many other places use DD/MM).
   • When writing formally, always use the full month name for clarity.

Dates in English: Practice Examples

• Date: January 1, 2023
  • American: “January first, twenty twenty-three.”
  • British: “The first of January, twenty twenty-three.”
• Date: October 31, 2023
  • American: “October thirty-first, twenty twenty-three.”
  • British: “The thirty-first of October, twenty twenty-three.”

Dates In English: Exercises

• Write the following dates in both formats:
  1. 04/07/2023
  2. 25 December 2023
  3. 15 August 2023
• Practice saying aloud:
  • March 15, 2023
  • April 20, 2023
  • February 14, 2023

Conclusion

In conclusion, effectively using transition words when discussing dates in English not only enhances the clarity of your writing but also helps to guide readers through the timeline of events. Ultimately, mastering dates in English is essential for English learners.

Study these speaking lessons:

School (A Comprehensive Speaking Guide for English Learners)
Daily Routine : A Comprehensive Guide for English Learners
The Weather In English
Talking About Hobbies and Interest