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Lesson 54 of 240

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Months and dates in German

Priya is at Bäckerei Krause on a quiet October morning. Renate looks at the calendar behind the counter. Priya asks what today's date is.

Renate gives the day and the month, then asks when Priya's birthday is.

You'll ask today's date, say a date and a month, and ask when someone's birthday is.

Anton is sure his birthday was yesterday. Then he thinks it might be next month.

By the end of this lesson

Say the month, day, and date, and ask when.

  • Der Wievielte ist heute?What's today's date?
  • Heute ist der zwölfte Oktober.Today is the twelfth of October.
  • Am dritten Mai.On the third of May.
  • Im Dezember.In December.
  • Wann hast du Geburtstag?When's your birthday?
  • Nächsten Monat.Next month.

Scene — the bakery calendar

October at Bäckerei Krause. Priya stands at the counter. Renate has a calendar on the wall behind her.

Anton sits at the corner table with two chairs and a Milchkaffee he has not finished.

Priya stands at the counter while Renate glances toward a wall calendar and Anton sits at the corner table with his unfinished Milchkaffee.

Learn — dates and months

Six short lines cover today's date, a day in a month, a month on its own, and when a birthday is.

You'll also get a way to say next month.

  1. Priya leans toward Renate and the calendar with a questioning expression.

    Der Wievielte ist heute?

    What's today's date?

    When to use it: Ask this when you want today's date.

    Learn it as one piece to ask the date.

    Say it: Wievielte is stressed on 'viel.'

  2. Renate turns in profile to check the calendar as Priya waits at the counter.

    Heute ist der zwölfte Oktober.

    Today is the twelfth of October.

    When to use it: Say this to give today's date.

    Learn it as one piece for a full date.

    Say it: zwölfte uses the rounded ö sound.

  3. Priya shares her birthday with a small hand-to-chest gesture.

    Am dritten Mai.

    On the third of May.

    When to use it: Give a date without naming the year.

    Learn it as one piece for a day and month.

  4. Renate wraps a loaf at the window-side end of the counter, turned away from the calendar.

    Im Dezember.

    In December.

    When to use it: Name a month without a day.

    Learn it as one piece for a month.

  5. Priya turns back toward Renate to ask her birthday while Anton remains seated at the corner table.

    Wann hast du Geburtstag?

    When's your birthday?

    When to use it: Ask a friend when their birthday is.

    Learn it as one piece with someone close.

    Say it: Geburtstag is stressed on 'burt.'

  6. Anton looks up from his unfinished Milchkaffee toward the counter.

    Nächsten Monat.

    Next month.

    When to use it: Point to the month after this one.

    Learn it as one piece for next month.

    Say it: Nächsten has the soft ch sound, as in ich.

Story — maybe next month

Watch Priya name a date at the counter. Renate asks about birthdays, and Anton cannot quite remember his.

The highlighted words are the lines you just learned. Turn on Show English if you need it.

  1. A calendar hangs on the wall. Renate looks at it.
  2. RenateWie geht's?How are you?
  3. PriyaGut.Good.
  4. Priya looks at the calendar too.
  5. PriyaDer Wievielte ist heute?What's today's date?
  6. Renate checks the calendar and answers.
  7. RenateHeute ist der zwölfte Oktober.Today is the twelfth of October.
  8. RenateWann hast du Geburtstag?When's your birthday?
  9. PriyaAm dritten Mai.On the third of May.
  10. Priya asks her back.
  11. PriyaWann hast du Geburtstag?When's your birthday?
  12. RenateIm Dezember.In December.
  13. Anton looks up from his Milchkaffee.
  14. AntonGestern? Nächsten Monat.Yesterday? Next month.

Practice — day or month

Eleven quick exercises wait here. You'll listen, pick, match, fill a gap, and build a line.

They stay tiny, so the round moves fast.

0 of 11 done

  1. What did you hear?

  2. Match the pairs

    German

    Heute ist der zwölfte Oktober.Drop the English here
    Am dritten Mai.Drop the English here
    Im Dezember.Drop the English here

    English

    Drag an English line onto its German, or tap one and then the other.

  3. What do you say?

    Ask a friend when their birthday is.

  4. Fill the gap

    Today is the twelfth of October.

    Heute ist der ____ Oktober.

  5. What does it mean?

    Nächsten Monat.

  6. Swap the word

    Name the third of May, not the first.

    Am ____ Mai.

  7. Pick the reply

    Renate says:

    Der Wievielte ist heute?

    What's today's date?

    And you reply with:

  8. Build the line

    What's today's date?

    ?

    Tap the words in order.

  9. What do you say?

    A friend said hello. Ask how they are, the short way.

  10. Fill the gap

    On Friday.

    Am ____.

  11. True or false?

    This asks what weekday it is today.

Say it — say the date

Now you're Priya at the bakery counter. When it's your turn, tap the microphone and speak the line.

Tap ▶ first if you want to hear the line. Your recording stays on your device.

  1. RenateDer Wievielte ist heute?What's today's date?
  2. Priya (you)Tell her today's date, the twelfth of October.

    Heute ist der zwölfte Oktober.

    Today is the twelfth of October.

0 of 4 said

Recap — what you can say now

GermanEnglish
Der Wievielte ist heute?What's today's date?
Heute ist der zwölfte Oktober.Today is the twelfth of October.
Am dritten Mai.On the third of May.
Im Dezember.In December.
Wann hast du Geburtstag?When's your birthday?
Nächsten Monat.Next month.
Next: lesson 55Colours and sizes

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Keep practicing with Yak Cards

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A quick round with the Yak Cards each day keeps dates and months ready.

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