A1 Time Expressions 5 min read Leicht

Telling Dates

Just say 'den' + number + month, and remember that Swedish months are always lowercase.
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Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

To state a date in Swedish, use the cardinal number followed by the month name; for the first, use 'första'.

  • Use cardinal numbers (1, 2, 3) for the day: 'Den 5 maj'.
  • The first of the month is special: 'Den 1:a (första) maj'.
  • Months are never capitalized in Swedish unless they start a sentence: 'maj' not 'Maj'.
Den + [Number] + [Month]

Overview

## Overview
Telling dates in Swedish is straightforward but relies on a few specific habits that differ from English. In Swedish, we use the definite article den before the number. Unlike English, where we often use ordinal numbers (first, second, third) in speech, Swedish primarily uses cardinal numbers (1, 2, 3) for dates, with the notable exception of the first of the month.
You will rarely see months capitalized in Swedish, which is a common trap for English speakers. Mastering this is essential for scheduling meetings, booking travel, or simply talking about your birthday. Remember that Swedish dates follow a logical order: den + day + month.
It is a very consistent system that you will use daily.
## How to Form It
To form a date, start with the word den. Follow this with the number of the day. If the day is the 1st, use 1:a or the word första. For all other days, simply use the number (2, 3, 4, etc.). Finally, add the month name in lowercase.
Examples:
  • 1st: Den 1:a maj (Den första maj)
  • 2nd: Den 2 maj
  • 15th: Den 15 juni
In questions, use: 'Vilket datum är det idag?' (What date is it today?). The answer is always: 'Idag är det den [number] [month]'.
## When to Use It
You will use this in almost every logistical interaction. When booking a doctor's appointment, you might say 'Jag vill ha en tid den 14 oktober'. When texting a friend about a party, you write 'Festen är den 20 november'.
In professional emails, you must be precise with the date format to avoid confusion. Always remember that in Sweden, the ISO date format (YYYY-MM-DD) is also very common in digital forms, but in spoken language, the 'den + number + month' structure is the absolute standard.
## Common Mistakes
The most common mistake is capitalizing the month, e.g., writing 'Maj' instead of 'maj'. Another error is using ordinal numbers for every date (e.g., 'den femte maj' is okay, but 'den 5:e maj' is often written while 'den 5 maj' is more common). Finally, forgetting the 'den' is a frequent slip-up for beginners.
Remember: 'den' is your best friend for dates.
## How It's Different From...
It differs from English because English uses ordinal numbers (1st, 2nd, 3rd) in both speech and writing, whereas Swedish prefers cardinal numbers (1, 2, 3) in writing. It also differs from German, where the ordinal is almost always required with a dot (1. Mai).
Swedish is simpler because it treats the date as a count of days rather than a position in a sequence.
## CEFR-Level Explanations
A1: In Swedish, you say dates like this: 'den' + number + month. For example, 'den 5 maj'. Remember that months like 'maj' or 'juni' start with a small letter. It is very easy to learn!
A2: When talking about dates, Swedish uses the definite article 'den' before the day. While we use cardinal numbers (1, 2, 3) for most dates, the 1st is always 'första' or '1:a'. Note that months are never capitalized.
You can use this in questions like 'När fyller du år?' (When is your birthday?).
B1: The Swedish date system is highly regular. The structure 'den + cardinal number + month' is standard. While ordinal suffixes like ':a' or ':e' are common in writing, they are often omitted in casual speech.
A key nuance is that Swedish does not capitalize months, unlike English. When discussing historical dates or deadlines, ensure you use the correct preposition 'den' to anchor the time expression within the sentence structure.
B2: Swedish date syntax reflects a preference for cardinal quantification. While the ordinal 'första' is mandatory for the 1st, subsequent days utilize cardinal integers. In formal correspondence, the use of the colon-suffix (e.g., 2:a, 3:e) is standard, though it remains optional in informal digital communication.
The orthographic rule regarding lowercase months is strictly enforced in Swedish, distinguishing it from Germanic languages like German where capitalization is mandatory for nouns.
C1: The expression of dates in Swedish demonstrates a pragmatic approach to temporal markers. By utilizing the definite article 'den' followed by a cardinal number, the language creates a clear, unambiguous temporal anchor. The distinction between the 1st (ordinal) and the remainder of the month (cardinal) is a vestige of older linguistic patterns.
Furthermore, the orthographic constraint on month names serves to maintain a streamlined aesthetic in Swedish prose, contrasting with the noun-capitalization rules found in other North Germanic and West Germanic languages.
C2: Swedish temporal syntax for dates is characterized by its reliance on the definite article 'den' to specify a unique point in the calendar. The morphosyntactic shift from ordinal to cardinal numbers for days 2-31 represents a simplification of the calendar system. The orthographic convention of lowercase months is a hallmark of Swedish standard orthography, reflecting a broader tendency toward lowercase usage compared to other European languages.
Mastery of this system requires internalizing the specific usage of 'den' as a determiner for the date, which functions as a temporal adverbial phrase in most sentence structures.

Meanings

This rule governs how to express specific calendar dates when answering questions about when something happens.

1

Basic Date Expression

Stating a specific day of the month.

“Idag är det den 10 januari.”

“Vi ses den 25 december.”

Swedish Date Formation

Day Swedish Form English Equivalent
1st Den 1:a (första) The 1st
2nd Den 2 The 2nd
3rd Den 3 The 3rd
10th Den 10 The 10th
21st Den 21:a The 21st
31st Den 31 The 31st

Common Abbreviations

Full Abbreviation
Januari jan
Februari feb
Mars mar
December dec

Reference Table

Reference table for Telling Dates
Form Structure Example
Affirmative Den + [Number] + [Month] Det är den 5 maj.
Question Vilket datum + är det? Vilket datum är det?
Ordinal (1st) Den 1:a + [Month] Den 1:a januari.
Ordinal (21st) Den 21:a + [Month] Den 21:a maj.
Negative Det är inte + den + [Date] Det är inte den 10:e.
Short Answer Den + [Number] Den 12:e.

Formalitätsspektrum

Formell
Mötet äger rum den 5 maj.

Mötet äger rum den 5 maj. (Work/Professional)

Neutral
Mötet är den 5 maj.

Mötet är den 5 maj. (Work/Professional)

Informell
Mötet är den 5:e.

Mötet är den 5:e. (Work/Professional)

Umgangssprache
Mötet är den 5:e.

Mötet är den 5:e. (Work/Professional)

Date Components

Date

Day

  • 1 1st
  • 15 15th

Month

  • maj May
  • juni June

Swedish vs English Dates

Swedish
Den 5 maj May 5th
English
May 5th May 5th

Is it the 1st?

1

Is it the 1st?

YES
Use '1:a' or 'första'
NO
Use cardinal number

Months of the Year

🌸

Spring

  • • mars
  • • april
  • • maj
☀️

Summer

  • • juni
  • • juli
  • • augusti
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Examples by Level

1

Idag är det den 1 maj.

Today is May 1st.

2

Vi ses den 5 juni.

We meet on June 5th.

3

Min födelsedag är den 12 mars.

My birthday is March 12th.

4

Mötet är den 20 augusti.

The meeting is August 20th.

1

När är din fest? Den 15:e juli.

When is your party? July 15th.

2

Jag reser den 2:a februari.

I am traveling on February 2nd.

3

Kommer du den 30 september?

Are you coming on September 30th?

4

Det är den 10:e idag.

It is the 10th today.

1

Deadline för ansökan är den 31 oktober.

The deadline for the application is October 31st.

2

Vi har bokat bord den 14 februari.

We have booked a table for February 14th.

3

Den 1:a januari är en helgdag.

January 1st is a holiday.

4

Kan vi flytta mötet till den 12:e?

Can we move the meeting to the 12th?

1

Föreläsningen börjar den 25:e mars klockan tio.

The lecture starts on March 25th at ten.

2

Vi förväntar oss leverans den 8:e maj.

We expect delivery on May 8th.

3

Den 6:e juni firar vi nationaldagen.

On June 6th we celebrate the national day.

4

Vänligen bekräfta senast den 22:a november.

Please confirm by November 22nd.

1

Avtalet undertecknades den 19:e december.

The contract was signed on December 19th.

2

Den 24:e december är julafton i Sverige.

December 24th is Christmas Eve in Sweden.

3

Vi planerar att lansera produkten den 3:e september.

We plan to launch the product on September 3rd.

4

Det är den 11:e i ordningen.

It is the 11th in the sequence.

1

Den 10:e december delas Nobelpriset ut.

On December 10th the Nobel Prize is awarded.

2

Historiskt sett var den 1:a maj en viktig dag.

Historically, May 1st was an important day.

3

Vi ses den 29:e februari, ett skottår!

We meet on February 29th, a leap year!

4

Den 13:e är ett datum många fruktar.

The 13th is a date many fear.

Easily Confused

Telling Dates vs. Ordinal vs Cardinal

Learners use ordinals for every date.

Telling Dates vs. Capitalization

Learners capitalize months like in English.

Telling Dates vs. Prepositions

Learners use 'i' or 'på' for specific dates.

Häufige Fehler

✗

Maj 5

✓

Den 5 maj

Swedish requires 'den' and the order is day-month.
✗

Den 5:e Maj

✓

Den 5 maj

Months should not be capitalized.
✗

Den femte maj

✓

Den 5 maj

While 'femte' is correct, cardinal '5' is more common in writing.
✗

Det är 5 maj

✓

Det är den 5 maj

Missing the definite article 'den'.
✗

Den 1 maj

✓

Den 1:a maj

The 1st requires an ordinal suffix.
✗

Den 21 maj

✓

Den 21:a maj

Numbers ending in 1 or 2 require ':a'.
✗

Mötet är i 5 maj

✓

Mötet är den 5 maj

Use 'den' for specific dates, not 'i'.
✗

Den 22:e maj

✓

Den 22:a maj

21 and 22 use ':a', not ':e'.
✗

Den 3:a maj

✓

Den 3:e maj

3 uses ':e', not ':a'.
✗

Den 1:e maj

✓

Den 1:a maj

1 uses ':a'.
✗

Den 21:e

✓

Den 21:a

Grammatical agreement for ordinal suffixes.
✗

Den 22:e

✓

Den 22:a

Grammatical agreement for ordinal suffixes.
✗

Den 3:a

✓

Den 3:e

Grammatical agreement for ordinal suffixes.
✗

Den 4:a

✓

Den 4:e

Grammatical agreement for ordinal suffixes.

Sentence Patterns

Idag är det den ___ ___.

Min födelsedag är den ___ ___.

Vi ses den ___ ___.

Deadline är den ___ ___.

Real World Usage

Texting constant

Ses den 5:e?

Job Interviews very common

Jag kan börja den 1 augusti.

Food Delivery occasional

Leverans den 10:e.

Travel Booking common

Resa den 20 juni.

Social Media common

Födelsedag den 12 mars!

Emails very common

Vänligen svara senast den 15:e.

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💡

Lowercase Months

Always write months in lowercase. It's a key Swedish rule.
⚠️

The 1st is special

Remember to use '1:a' or 'första' for the 1st of the month.
🎯

Use 'den'

Always include 'den' when writing dates in formal contexts.
💬

Punctuality

Swedes value dates and times. Be precise!

Smart Tips

Always check if the month is lowercase.

Den 5 Maj → Den 5 maj

Remember to add ':a'.

Den 1 maj → Den 1:a maj

Use ':a' instead of ':e'.

Den 21:e maj → Den 21:a maj

You can drop 'den'.

Vi ses den 5 maj. → Vi ses 5 maj.

Aussprache

/dɛn/

Den

Pronounced like 'den' in English, but with a shorter vowel.

/-ɛ/

Ordinal suffixes

The ':a' is pronounced as 'e' (schwa) and ':e' is also pronounced as 'e'.

Declarative

Idag är det den 5 maj ↘

Falling intonation for statements.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Den is the key, the number is free, and months are small as can be.

Visual Association

Imagine a calendar on a wall where the word 'den' is written in big red letters on every single day. Below it, the numbers are just plain digits, and the months are tiny, lowercase ants crawling at the bottom.

Rhyme

For the date, use 'den', then the number again, and keep the month small, for one and for all.

Story

Sven wanted to meet his friend on the 5th of May. He wrote 'Den 5 maj' on his calendar. He made sure the 'm' in 'maj' was tiny because he didn't want to wake up the giant 'M'.

Word Web

dendatumförstamajjanuariidagnär

Herausforderung

Write down the dates of the next five birthdays in your family using the Swedish format.

Kulturelle Hinweise

Swedes are very punctual. Dates are taken seriously in work settings.

Similar date usage, often influenced by Finnish syntax.

Expats often struggle with the lowercase month rule.

The use of 'den' comes from the Old Norse definite article system.

Conversation Starters

“

Vilket datum är det idag?

“

När fyller du år?

“

När är din semester?

“

Vilket datum börjar kursen?

Journal Prompts

Write about your birthday.
Write about a holiday you like.
Plan a fake meeting.
Describe the most important date in your year.
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Test Yourself

Fill in the blank.

Idag är det ___ 5 maj.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: den
Dates require 'den'.
Choose the correct date format. Multiple Choice

Which is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: den 5 maj
Months are lowercase.
Correct the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Mötet är i 10 maj.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Mötet är den 10 maj.
Use 'den'.
Reorder the words. Sentence Reorder

Arrange the words in the correct order:

All words placed

Click words above to build the sentence

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Det är den 5 maj.
Correct word order.
Translate to Swedish. Übersetzung

The 1st of June.

Answer starts with: Den...

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Den 1:a juni
1st requires ':a'.
Match the date. Match Pairs

Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Den 12 mars
Standard format.
Which is correct? Multiple Choice

The 21st of May.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Den 21:a maj
21 uses ':a'.
Fill in the blank.

Vi ses den ___ februari.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 2
Cardinal is standard.

Score: /8

Ubungsaufgaben

8 exercises
Fill in the blank.

Idag är det ___ 5 maj.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: den
Dates require 'den'.
Choose the correct date format. Multiple Choice

Which is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: den 5 maj
Months are lowercase.
Correct the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Mötet är i 10 maj.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Mötet är den 10 maj.
Use 'den'.
Reorder the words. Sentence Reorder

maj / den / 5 / är / det

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Det är den 5 maj.
Correct word order.
Translate to Swedish. Übersetzung

The 1st of June.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Den 1:a juni
1st requires ':a'.
Match the date. Match Pairs

Match 12th of March.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Den 12 mars
Standard format.
Which is correct? Multiple Choice

The 21st of May.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Den 21:a maj
21 uses ':a'.
Fill in the blank.

Vi ses den ___ februari.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 2
Cardinal is standard.

Score: /8

FAQ (8)

In writing, yes. In casual speech, it is often dropped.

It's a standard Swedish orthographic rule to keep text clean.

No, only for the 1st.

Use 'Den 21:a'.

No, it's a definite article.

Yes, for the month in general, but not for a specific date.

Grammatical agreement for ordinal suffixes.

They are the same, but you must include 'den'.

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In Other Languages

Spanish moderate

El 5 de mayo

Spanish uses 'de' between number and month.

French high

Le 5 mai

French uses cardinal numbers for all dates except the 1st.

German moderate

Der 5. Mai

German requires a dot after the number.

Japanese low

5月5日 (Go-gatsu itsu-ka)

Japanese order is reversed.

Arabic low

الخامس من مايو

Arabic uses ordinal numbers.

Chinese low

五月五日

Chinese has no articles.

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