Dates
Expressing dates in German follows specific patterns. Understanding these patterns will help you communicate about dates correctly.
This lesson covers how to express dates in German, including days, months, and years.
Explanation
Dates are expressed as: 'der' + ordinal number + month: 'der erste Januar' (the first of January), 'der fünfzehnte Mai' (the fifteenth of May).
When writing dates, use ordinal numbers with a period: '1. Januar' (January 1st), '15. Mai' (May 15th).
For 'on the [date]', use 'am' (an dem): 'am 1. Januar' (on January 1st), 'am 15. Mai' (on May 15th).
Months are capitalized and are masculine: 'der Januar', 'der Februar', 'der März', etc.
Days of the week are also capitalized and are masculine: 'der Montag', 'der Dienstag', 'der Mittwoch', etc.
For 'on [day]', use 'am': 'am Montag' (on Monday), 'am Dienstag' (on Tuesday).
Months and Days
| English | German | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Januar | am 1. Januar | on January 1st |
| February | Februar | am 15. Februar | on February 15th |
| March | März | am 20. März | on March 20th |
| April | April | am 10. April | on April 10th |
| May | Mai | am 5. Mai | on May 5th |
| June | Juni | am 25. Juni | on June 25th |
| July | Juli | am 12. Juli | on July 12th |
| August | August | am 30. August | on August 30th |
| September | September | am 1. September | on September 1st |
| October | Oktober | am 15. Oktober | on October 15th |
| November | November | am 20. November | on November 20th |
| December | Dezember | am 31. Dezember | on December 31st |
Examples
Heute ist der 15. Mai.
Today is the 15th of May.
Ich bin am 1. Januar geboren.
I was born on January 1st.
Wir treffen uns am Montag.
We meet on Monday.
Der Termin ist am 20. März.
The appointment is on March 20th.
Am ersten Dezember beginnt der Winter.
On the first of December, winter begins.
Common Mistakes
am 1 Januar
am 1. Januar
When writing dates, ordinal numbers must have a period: '1.' not '1'.
der 15 Mai
der 15. Mai
Ordinal numbers in dates require a period: '15.' not '15'.
am Montag (when meaning 'on Mondays')
montags
For recurring events (every Monday), use the adverbial form: 'montags' (Mondays), not 'am Montag' (on Monday - specific).
Practice Exercises
Test your understanding with interactive exercises. Practice makes perfect!
Start Exercises →Related Topics
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know which article to use?
German articles (der, die, das) depend on the gender of the noun. While there are some patterns, many nouns must be memorized. Practice and exposure to German will help you learn them naturally.
What's the difference between definite and indefinite articles?
Definite articles (der, die, das) mean 'the' and refer to specific things. Indefinite articles (ein, eine) mean 'a/an' and refer to non-specific things. Both must match the noun's gender: use 'ein' for masculine/neuter and 'eine' for feminine.
Are there rules for determining noun gender?
While there are some helpful patterns (e.g., words ending in -ung are usually feminine), there are many exceptions. The best approach is to learn nouns with their articles from the beginning.
What happens if I use the wrong article?
While using the wrong article is a common mistake, native speakers will usually still understand you. However, using the correct article is important for sounding natural and fluent in German.