Do you struggle with writing dates correctly in German? This article offers an in-depth guide for those looking to master how to write the date in German. It thoroughly explores the crucial aspects of German grammar as they apply to date notation, proving to be an essential resource for learners.

Writing the date properly

If you're learning German, you've probably realized that mastering German cases is essential for fluent communication. Here's something you might not know: this rule also applies to writing dates in German, which is a common challenge for students. Another key aspect is understanding ordinal numbers (Ordnungszahlen). So, let's delve into the specifics and equip you with the skills needed to understand how to Write the Date in German.

Recommended study materials on the topic:

1. A-Grammar: Practice German grammar German (incl. answers)

2. B-Grammar: Practice German grammar German (incl. answers)

3. German self-study book for A1-B1  (incl. answers)

4. Accusative or Dative wheel 

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German ordinal numbers (Ordnungszahlen)

The first essential point to understand is expressing ordinal numbers in German. These are terms like 'first', 'second', 'third', 'fourth', and so on, used to specify a particular position in a sequence. These numbers are always used attributively, preceding the noun, and follow adjectives' declension patterns. Additionally, they can be transformed into nouns themselves.

When writing dates in German, you typically use an article, and accordingly, ordinal numbers from 1 to 19 are formed by adding 'te' to the base number, except for 1, 3, 7, and 8. For numbers 20 and above, add 'ste' to the base number. Additionally, you must modify the endings to align with the adjective declension (Adjektivdeklination), which will be illustrated in the examples that follow.

Numbers 1 - 19

• erste → first

• zweite → second

• dritte → third

• vierte → fourth

• fünfte → fith

• sechste → sixth

• siebte → seventh

• achte → eighth

Numbers from 20

• zwanzigste → twentieth

• zweiundzwanzigste → twenty-second

• fünfundzwanzigste → twenty-fifth

• dreißigste → thirtieth

Remember: With "sein," numbers end in "-te" or "-ste." For Dative case prepositions, use "-ten" or "-sten."

Writing the date in German with Nominative

Though not often used, the simplest way to write dates in German is with the Nominative case. This case is for the main part of a sentence, like who or what is doing something. You mainly use Nominative with the verb "sein" (which means "to be"). When you use "sein," it's like saying the thing before the verb is the same as the thing after it. So, there's no need for an object, which is the part that receives the action.

For example:

Gestern war der 5. (fünfte) 6. (sechste). → Yesterday was the 5th of June.

Sein Geburtstag ist der 23. (dreiundzwanzigste) 12. (zwölfte). → His birthday is the 23rd of December.

Writing the date in German with Dative

The more usual but slightly harder way to say dates in German is with the Dative case. You use Dative for dates because they are about time (which is like a place) or you need prepositions that require the Dative case. You add an extra 'n' to your ordinal numbers for Dative. So, they change to 'ten' for numbers up to 20 and 'sten' for numbers larger than 20.

1. Writing the date with “am”

If you want to say something happens on a particular day, you should use the preposition "am," similar to "on" in English.

For example:

Das Treffen ist am 10. (zehnten) 8. (achten).  → The meeting is on the 10th of August.

Mein Geburtstag ist am 15. (fünfzehnten) 10. (zehnten). → My birthday is on the 15th of October.

2. Writing the date with “vom … bis zum”

If you need to indicate that something starts on a particular date and finishes on a different date, you typically use "vom … bis zum," which translates to "from … to …" in English.

For example:

Das Geschäft bleibt vom 1. (ersten) 1. (ersten) bis zum 6. (sechsten) 1. (ersten) geschlossen. → The store will be closed from 1st until the 6th of January.

Die Schulferien sind vom 10. (zehnten) 6. (sechsten) bis zum 30. (dreißigsten) 7. (siebten).  → School holidays are from the 10th of June until the 30th of July.

3. Writing the date with “ab dem”

If you want to convey that something begins from a certain date, you should use the term "ab dem."

For example: 

Ab dem 8. (achten) 10. (zehnten) wohnt er in Berlin. 

Wir sind ab dem 9. (neunten) 4. (vierten) im Urlaub.

Remember: Use the Nominative case with the verb “sein” & the Dative case for “am,” “vom … bis zum,” & "ab dem" when writing dates.

Stating the months

In the examples above, I also wrote the months as ordinal numbers; however, you could also simply write them as months. 

For example: 

Das Treffen ist am 10. (zehnten) August.

Die Ferien dauern bis zum 5. (fünften) November. 

Conclusion

I hope this article helps you feel better about writing dates in German. To practice, you can write your family's and friends' birthdays, anniversaries, or meetings in your calendar. Also, if you want to learn more German, make sure to learn about the days of the week and the months in German.

Bis bald!

Steffie

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